Ebola and hantavirus are unlikely to spark a pandemic but risks still exist for Charleston hunters

The Andes strain of hantavirus and the Bundabigyo ebolavirus are not expected to trigger a pandemic in the U.S., though they remain risks for travelers and specific groups like South Carolina dove hunters, according to infectious disease experts. The Andes strain has drawn global attention after killing three cruise ship passengers aboard the *M/V Hondius*. The first victim died on the ship after traveling in Argentina’s Andes mountains, while two others—including their partner—died after medical evacuation. Eighteen American passengers are currently quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center until May 31, when their incubation period ends. Unlike most hantaviruses, the Andes strain can spread between humans through prolonged close contact, though it is not airborne. The virus primarily circulates in the long-tailed pygmy rice rat in Argentina and Chile. The CDC reports 890 confirmed U.S. cases since 1993, with 35% fatality, but these are mostly from western strains transmitted via rodent droppings. Meanwhile, the Bundabigyo virus—a member of the ebolavirus family—has caused an outbreak in Congo’s eastern region, with 1,077 suspected infections and 238 suspected deaths since its declaration. Only 128 cases and 18 deaths have been lab-confirmed due to testing challenges in the war-torn area. Ebolaviruses spread through direct contact with infected body fluids, while the Andes strain requires close human contact for transmission. Dr. Kent Stock, a Charleston epidemiologist, emphasized that neither virus spreads through the air. The CDC has stressed this outbreak differs from COVID-19, as the Andes strain is a known pathogen. South Carolina hunters may face risks if exposed to infected rodents, though the immediate threat remains low for the general population.