Risk of Hantavirus Spread in Armenia: New Data

On May 10, the MV Hondius cruise ship arrived at the Granadilla port in the Tenerife province of the Canary Islands, following which passengers were disembarked and repatriation flights were arranged to their countries of residence.

The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as of May 12, a total of 11 cases have been recorded, of which 9 are confirmed and 2 are probable. The identified patients are either passengers of the cruise ship or had close contact with them.

The repatriated passengers underwent medical examinations, laboratory samples were taken from them, and they were then transferred under special conditions to isolation facilities, where they will spend their quarantine period under medical supervision. Efforts to identify, examine, and medically monitor contacts are also ongoing.

The virus identified is the Andean hantavirus, the only type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from human to human, mainly through close and prolonged contact.

The World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assess the risk to the general population as very low. The risk of hantavirus spread in Armenia is currently also assessed as low. Health authorities continue to monitor the international situation. At this time, the WHO is not recommending travel or trade restrictions,” the statement said.