The Andes virus (a strain of hantavirus) is transmitted between humans only through very close and prolonged contact (such as sharing a bed or exchanging saliva) and only after the onset of initial flu-like symptoms, which significantly limits the risk of a pandemic compared to a typical respiratory virus.

noli's read

Epidemiological data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and observational studies (notably a contact-tracing study published by Martinez et al. in the New England Journal of Medicine) confirm that the Andes strain is indeed the only hantavirus capable of spreading from human to human. Observational research validates that this transmission requires intimate and prolonged contact, often within the same household, rather than simple inhalation of micro-droplets at a distance. The fact that contagiousness coincides with the appearance of the first physical signs (fever, body aches) is also documented, which greatly facilitates the isolation of affected individuals. Furthermore, genetic sequencing analyses show that this virus has a relatively low mutation rate compared to influenza viruses or coronaviruses. The creator's call for calm and measured vigilance is therefore perfectly aligned with the current state of scientific knowledge.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.