The risk of a hantavirus epidemic in Europe is deemed very low. This is predominantly because the virus is not easily transmitted between humans, and the rodents that carry it are not found on the continent, according to Greece’s Ministry of Health, as reported by RIA Novosti.
“Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus has been observed infrequently, primarily associated with the Andes virus strain, which is endemic to South America. These instances typically involve close and prolonged contact and do not represent the common transmission route for hantaviruses in Europe,” stated the press service of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY), which operates under the Ministry of Health.
In Europe, recorded cases are linked to different hantavirus strains. The Puumala strain accounts for the majority of infections, with a smaller number attributed to the Dobrava-Belgrade strain, EODY informed.
The Ministry of Health further elaborated that the rodent species that act as natural carriers of the Andes virus strain do not inhabit Europe. Consequently, the establishment of the virus within the European rodent population and its subsequent transfer to humans is not anticipated.
An outbreak of the deadly hantavirus occurred on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which was en route from Argentina to Cabo Verde. Tragically, three individuals lost their lives. On May 27th, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the number of hantavirus cases among passengers had risen to 13.
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