A new case of hantavirus has been identified in Europe, with authorities now tracing potential exposures. The individual tested positive on Thursday, having recently holidayed in France.
Details of the case
The person showed few symptoms, which have since cleared. The French health ministry confirmed the case on Thursday, August 6, stating the individual is a Franco-Argentine national who was on holiday in the country last month (July). The person tested positive for the Andes strain and was subsequently put in isolation after arriving in Spain.
The ministry said "all measures" were put in place to trace each stage of the journey, with experts meeting on Thursday to decide on next steps. Coordination across European nations has been established, according to reports from Le Monde and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) press agency.
Background on hantavirus
Hantavirus is the name given to a "group of viruses spread by rats, mice and voles", as the NHS website explains. The health service notes that hantaviruses "usually cause mild illness, but some people can become seriously unwell".
The Andes strain is the only one known to pass from human to human. An outbreak of this strain occurred earlier this year after a number of people fell ill on the cruise ship MV Hondius in early April. The vessel had arrived in waters off Cape Verde on May 3, before sailing to Tenerife, arriving on May 10.
Previous outbreak and response
Checks were carried out by medical staff of all passengers and crew on board before they disembarked, though further tracing was required due to a number of people subsequently testing positive, the GOV.UK website explains. The virus's up to six-week incubation period before symptoms show makes it difficult to track and isolate people.
The cause of the illness wasn't initially clear, but a cluster of cases on the ship was reported in early May, when the outbreak was officially declared. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak over on July 2, after a fortnight without any new cases reported globally.
French authorities haven't indicated that the new case was linked to the cruise ship outbreak. The ministry said a French woman who caught the bug on the ship was discharged from intensive care on Thursday following almost three months in the unit, having been repatriated to France in a critical condition in May.
Current risk
There is no indication at this stage of the potential for another outbreak, and the NHS notes that the risk to the UK public remains low.
