France and Netherlands Confirm No Hantavirus Cases Among Contacts
Health authorities in France and the Netherlands have reported that all close contacts of hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship have tested negative for the illness.
Paris/Washington: Health minister Stephanie Rist confirmed on Thursday that out of the 26 people identified as close contacts of hantavirus cases aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius in France, none have contracted the disease.
Dutch authorities corroborate this information by stating that all passengers who arrived on evacuation flights from the ship during the week also tested negative for hantavirus.
A total of 22 individuals within France were travelers who boarded flights either from the Atlantic island of Saint Helena to Johannesburg or were scheduled to take a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, which was meant to be occupied by a Dutch passenger.
The Dutch woman at the center of this international alert was removed from her flight and passed away in a South African hospital.
As a precautionary measure, the 26 individuals will undergo weekly hantavirus tests for three weeks, as directed by Rist.
Globally, there have been three reported fatalities and six confirmed cases of hantavirus among passengers aboard the Hondius, alongside one probable case and one U.S. passenger presenting symptoms but recording a negative test result, according to official figures.
Health authorities have continuously emphasized that the risk to the wider public remains low.
In response to these developments, the European Union intends to enhance its information exchange between member states in order to improve hantavirus combat strategies.
France has called for "closer coordination" on EU health protocols, as announced on Tuesday.
In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently monitoring 41 individuals across the country who may have been exposed to hantavirus, with most advised to self-isolate for a period of 42 days to avoid potential transmission to others.
These monitored individuals are categorized into three main groups, as outlined by Dr. David Fitter, incident manager for the CDC’s hantavirus response.
Dutch authorities corroborate this information by stating that all passengers who arrived on evacuation flights from the ship during the week also tested negative for hantavirus.
A total of 22 individuals within France were travelers who boarded flights either from the Atlantic island of Saint Helena to Johannesburg or were scheduled to take a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, which was meant to be occupied by a Dutch passenger.
The Dutch woman at the center of this international alert was removed from her flight and passed away in a South African hospital.
As a precautionary measure, the 26 individuals will undergo weekly hantavirus tests for three weeks, as directed by Rist.
Globally, there have been three reported fatalities and six confirmed cases of hantavirus among passengers aboard the Hondius, alongside one probable case and one U.S. passenger presenting symptoms but recording a negative test result, according to official figures.
Health authorities have continuously emphasized that the risk to the wider public remains low.
In response to these developments, the European Union intends to enhance its information exchange between member states in order to improve hantavirus combat strategies.
France has called for "closer coordination" on EU health protocols, as announced on Tuesday.
In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently monitoring 41 individuals across the country who may have been exposed to hantavirus, with most advised to self-isolate for a period of 42 days to avoid potential transmission to others.
These monitored individuals are categorized into three main groups, as outlined by Dr. David Fitter, incident manager for the CDC’s hantavirus response.
