Andes hantavirus outbreak: ECDC continues working on the frontline to support EU Member States

Press release
On 10 May, the cruise ship MV Hondius arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Passengers and crew continue to disembark and to be medically evacuated to their countries of origin. At disembarkation, they are all considered high-risk and repatriated, whether symptomatic or not, through non-commercial flights. 

According to ECDC’s scientific advice, passengers and crew who have symptoms require immediate medical isolation, testing and medical care, while those who do not have symptoms are asked to quarantine and monitor for symptoms for up to six weeks. 

Today, one new confirmed case has been reported in France: a former passenger who developed acute symptoms on the flight returning to France, and who is currently in intensive care.  

‘Because of remaining uncertainties and the long incubation period, it is possible that we may see additional cases in former passengers and crew in the coming weeks,’ says Dr Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of ECDC. ‘This is why ECDC’s precautionary approach since the beginning has been very important.’  

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In addition to the ECDC expert on board the ship since 6 May, ECDC deployed additional experts through the EU Health Task Force on Saturday, 9 May, to provide technical and operational support to the Spanish authorities as needed.   

ECDC continues to work closely with the Member States, the European Commission, WHO and other partners to support a coordinated response and information-sharing. In connection with this outbreak, ECDC rapidly engaged the EU Public Health Reference Laboratory for emerging, rodent-borne, and zoonotic viral pathogens to provide support to the Member States to ensure rapid and high-quality diagnostics.  

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Recent genetic sequencing of the virus strongly suggests that the confirmed tested passenger samples are linked to the same original source of infection. Genomic information also shows that the virus involved in the outbreak is similar to Andes viruses already known to circulate in South America, and is not a new variant. There is currently no evidence that this variant spreads more easily or causes more severe disease than other Andes viruses.  

ECDC will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Recent developments do not affect ECDC’s assessment, and the risk for the general population in the EU/EEA remains very low.  

 

 

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