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How does hantavirus compare to Ebola?

Hantavirus and Ebola are both feared hemorrhagic-disease viruses but transmit very differently. Reservoir: hantavirus rodents; Ebola fruit bats and primates. Human-to-human transmission: hantavirus rare (Andes); Ebola yes, via body fluids — efficient enough to drive multi-thousand-case outbreaks. Mortality: hantavirus 30-40% (Andes HPS); Ebola 25-90% depending on strain (Ebola Zaire 50-90%). Vaccine: hantavirus no approved international; Ebola yes, Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) approved for Zaire ebolavirus. Treatment: both supportive ICU; Ebola also has Inmazeb / Ebanga monoclonal antibodies. Major outbreaks: Argentina 1996, USA 1993 for hantavirus; West Africa 2014-16 (28k cases, 11k deaths), DRC 2018-20 for Ebola. Pandemic potential: both contained regionally; never global.

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Last update May 7, 2026 · ⚠ Not medical advice. Information is provided for awareness only; consult a physician for individual health questions.