Hantavirus "knocks" near Albania? How does the infection occur and the first signs

WHO confirms cases, global risk remains low

The World Health Organization has confirmed six cases of hantavirus out of eight suspected after an outbreak of the infection on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where at least three people have died.

According to preliminary data, all of those infected have the Andes variant, the only type of hantavirus that can rarely be transmitted from person to person. With six confirmed cases and three deaths, the mortality rate is about 38%.

However, the WHO emphasizes that the risk to the global population remains low and the situation is being continuously monitored.

Protests and security measures in Tenerife

The tourist ship is located near Tenerife, while local residents have reacted with concern and protests against the disembarkation of passengers.

Spanish authorities have announced that the ship will not dock directly in the port of Tenerife, but in the open sea. Passengers will be transported by ferries to the industrial port of Granadilla, away from residential areas.

According to the Spanish government, there will be no contact between passengers and local residents. Upon arrival, most of the passengers will be repatriated, while 14 Spanish citizens will be transferred to Madrid for quarantine.

Experts: There is no risk of pandemic

International experts and epidemiologists emphasize that the situation does not pose a risk of a new pandemic.

Gikas Mayorkinis, professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology at the National University of Athens, stated that transmission of the virus between people is "extremely limited" and requires very close and prolonged contact.

According to him, there is no indication that the virus is becoming more transmissible outside the specific environment where cases were recorded.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control also estimates that the risk to the public in Europe remains very low.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are mainly transmitted by infected rodents through urine, feces, or contaminated particles in the air.

Variants known as "New World viruses" circulate in South America, including the Andes virus, which is associated with more severe respiratory forms and higher mortality rates.

While in Europe, forms of hantavirus are considered milder and no human-to-human transmission has been documented.

Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure and include:

• temperature and fever,

• severe fatigue,

• muscle pain,

• respiratory problems,

• in severe cases, damage to the kidneys and cardiopulmonary system.

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for hantavirus and treatment remains supportive.

Alarm also in Italy, four people under surveillance

Italy has activated special surveillance procedures for four passengers who came into contact with an infected woman, who later died in Johannesburg.

According to the Italian Ministry of Health, contacts have been identified in the regions of Calabria, Campania, Tuscany and Veneto.

In Florence, a woman has been placed in preventive quarantine, while local authorities emphasize that contact with the victim was not close or prolonged.

Italian authorities have announced that the measures have been taken as part of "maximum caution", while current WHO and ECDC assessments continue to indicate a low risk to the general population./POLITIKO.AL