The European Union (EU) has stated that it is monitoring the situation related to hantavirus and that efforts are ongoing to develop vaccination and treatment methods against the virus.
Medianews.az reports that at the current stage, these cases are not considered the beginning of a large-scale epidemic.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, member of the EU Commission for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, evaluated the measures taken regarding hantavirus cases recorded on the passenger ship MV Hondius operating under the flag of the Netherlands during a speech in the European Parliament.
According to him, 11 infection cases have been identified so far, 9 of which have been confirmed as Andes hantavirus through laboratory analysis. Three people have died due to the virus, and two patients are still receiving intensive care treatment.
Tzitzikostas stated that all suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated under strict medical supervision. He emphasized that there is currently no sign indicating the start of a wider epidemic.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk level for the general population in Europe as "very low." Alongside this, it was noted that the EU’s health and civil protection mechanisms have been rapidly activated.
Following Spain’s request for assistance, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on May 6. More than 70 passengers and crew members were evacuated from Tenerife island to hospitals in Europe. It was reported that more than 40 of them are EU citizens.
Officials warned that due to the virus’s long incubation period, new infection cases may be detected in the coming weeks. It was emphasized that the EU Commission is working in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), ECDC, and member states.
Tzitzikostas noted that there is currently no approved specific vaccine or treatment for hantavirus in the EU. However, research is being conducted to develop promising vaccine and treatment methods against the virus.
It should be noted that hantavirus is primarily a virus transmitted from rodents to humans. Infection usually occurs through inhalation of air contaminated with dried rodent feces, urine, and saliva residues, and in some cases, by bites or scratches. The virus can manifest through symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle pain.