Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42515551›Full record

SynthesisViruses2026

Person-to-Person Transmission of Andes Virus (ANDV): A Systematic Review of Transmission Dynamics, Viral Shedding, and Public Health Implications.

Flavia Pennisi, Antonio Pinto, Stefania Borlini, Sabrina Caruccio, Giusy D'Alterio, Carlo Signorelli, Giovanni Rezza

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Viruses, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Flavia PennisiFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0001-9185-9747
Antonio PintoFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0006-4315-0481
Stefania BorliniASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy.
Sabrina CaruccioFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0007-6802-1448
Giusy D'AlterioFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-2982-3105
Carlo SignorelliFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9710-4962
Giovanni RezzaFaculty of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Andes virus (ANDV) is the only hantavirus with well-documented evidence of person-to-person transmission. However, key parameters related to transmission timing, viral shedding, exposure contexts, and public health management remain incompletely defined. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA 2020. MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from database inception up to 14 May 2026. Eligible studies reported epidemiological, virological, clinical, or public health data relevant to ANDV infection, person-to-person transmission, viral shedding, and/or outbreak control. Thirty-three studies, including 17,204 individuals, 2221 laboratory-confirmed ANDV cases, and 135 documented secondary cases, were included. Person-to-person transmission was identified as a primary or co-occurring route in 20 papers. The median incubation period among ANDV cases was 20.8 days, and the median serial interval was 21.8 days (upper bounds near 40 days). Secondary attack rates were higher among sexual and other close contacts. ANDV RNA was consistently detected in blood and occasionally in saliva, respiratory secretions, urine, breast milk, and semen, although RNA detection alone does not necessarily imply infectious virus. Rare reports of culture-confirmed isolation of replication-competent virus support the biological plausibility of transmission via close mucosal or respiratory exposure. Unlike other hantaviruses, Andes virus can spread person to person through close contact, supporting prolonged monitoring and risk-stratified follow-up of high-risk contacts based on ANDV-specific epidemiological evidence. Possible recommendations, including post-discharge counselling regarding possible sexual transmission, remain provisional and require further evidence. Preparedness activities against outbreaks should also be implemented in non-endemic regions, while future research should prioritize prospective contact studies, standardized virological sampling, and genomic confirmation.

Indexed as

Hantavirus InfectionsOrthohantavirusVirus SheddingAnimalsDisease OutbreaksHumansInfectious Disease Incubation PeriodPublic HealthRNA, ViralRNA, ViralAndes orthohantavirusAndes viruscontact tracinghantavirus cardiopulmonary syndromeincubation periodoutbreak preparednessperson-to-person transmissionserial intervalviral loadviral shedding

Identifiers

PMID42515551
PMCPMC13431334

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.