Stability of Andes virus and its inactivation by WHO-recommended hand rub formulations and surface disinfectants

The Journal of Hospital Infection, Page S0195-6701(25)00270-1

INTRODUCTION: Hantaviruses are responsible for thousands of infections globally. In the absence of vaccines or targeted treatments for severe diseases such as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), medical care focuses solely on managing symptoms. As a result, preventive hygiene measures, such as disinfection, are essential to reduce transmission and minimize the virus's impact on human health. METHODOLOGY: Thus, the virucidal activity of hand antiseptics against ANDV was assessed using a quantitative suspension test in accordance with the European guideline EN14476. Surface disinfection efficacy was evaluated according to EN16777 and virus stability was assessed on stainless steel. RESULTS: In this study, we found that the WHO-recommended hand rub formulations I and II effectively inactivate Andes virus (ANDV) - a prototypic highly pathogenic New World hantavirus - at concentrations of 30% and 20%, respectively. Although ANDV exhibited relatively low stability on stainless steel discs, infectious virus could still be detected days post-contamination. However, disinfection of these surfaces using a variety of alcohol-, aldehyde-, and hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants completely eliminated viral infectivity. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that ANDV has lower environmental stability compared to other enveloped viruses and can be effectively inactivated by all disinfectants tested. This data can inform risk assessments, especially in areas where hantavirus outbreaks are common, and guide cleaning protocols for both healthcare environments and high-risk public spaces.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.08.010