Facing New Virus Threats: Hantavirus and Ebola

Covid-19 was a challenging time for many people worldwide. During those days, I was living in Berlin. I clearly remember the moment when Angela Merkel, then Germany’s chancellor, announced the lockdown. The immediate effects were unmistakable: homeschooling, masks, PCR tests, empty airports, and poignant stories of parents passing away alone in hospitals and care homes.

Now, with reports of new virus outbreaks—hantavirus and Ebola—concerns resurface. People are asking if these will be like Covid. They will not. But, as my colleague Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter, points out, this does not mean we can become complacent.

Credit…Arlette Bashizi for The New York Times

Are We Prepared for a Potential Pandemic?

Recent events have brought back memories of Covid for many. These include mysterious deaths on a cruise ship, a respiratory virus, and discussions about forced quarantines. Even before scientists confirmed that the recent hantavirus outbreak would not become a pandemic, reports of an escalating Ebola outbreak in central Africa surfaced. This outbreak includes hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths.

Neither hantavirus nor Ebola is expected to spread globally like Covid-19. Hantavirus can cause severe illness and death, but it is not highly contagious and tends to dissipate. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is concerning; however, the World Health Organization suggests it will mostly remain confined to Congo and nearby areas.

Yet, these incidents remind us that outbreaks are unavoidable. The world must be ready to control them before they develop into pandemics. Addressing this issue was a key focus for health officials worldwide who recently met at the W.H.O.’s annual meeting.