Infectious disease experts shoot down ivermectin as hantavirus cure

Health experts have strongly rejected claims that ivermectin can treat hantavirus, a potentially fatal disease with no proven cure. Dr. Joseph Vinetz, an infectious disease specialist at Yale School of Medicine, stated ivermectin does not work against hantavirus, despite its use for parasitic infections like scabies. He warned the drug could give patients false hope, as supportive care remains the only treatment option. The MV Hondius cruise ship, carrying nearly 150 people, remains stranded off Cape Verde after an outbreak of hantavirus, with eight confirmed cases and three deaths. The incubation period can last up to eight weeks, and symptoms initially resemble a cold or flu before progressing to severe respiratory and kidney issues. The ship’s limited medical resources raise concerns about patient care, as hantavirus has a 30-50% mortality rate. Hantavirus spreads primarily through rodent urine and feces, with the Andes virus being the only strain known to transmit person-to-person. The CDC classifies hantaviruses as a family of viruses capable of causing serious illness and death, with no vaccine or antiviral treatment available. Dr. Vinetz emphasized that outbreaks could devastate regions like the U.S. if introduced, given the lack of preventive measures. Jill Roberts, a professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, called ivermectin claims misinformation, noting antimicrobials rarely work across different microbial categories. While ribavirin, an antiviral, is sometimes used, supportive care—such as respiratory assistance—remains the primary treatment. Experts stress that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is driven by the body’s immune response, with ICU care required for severe cases. Symptoms of hantavirus include sore throat, dry cough, fever, and later breathing difficulties, often mistaken for the flu. The virus has no cure, and Dr. Vinetz expressed skepticism about future vaccine development. Public health officials urge caution, as the disease poses a serious threat with high fatality rates, particularly in regions with rodent populations.