European Commission: Low risk of hantavirus for Europeans

(Patria) - The risk of hantavirus for the population of Europe is low, announced European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova yesterday, after three people died from the infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

- I must reiterate that, according to currently available evidence, the risk to the public in Europe, i.e., to European citizens, remains low - stated Hrncirova, reports Flemish Radio Television (VRT).

Dutch media report that five cases of infection have been confirmed so far on the cruise ship where the presence of this virus was previously reported, while three more are considered probable, and three people have died.

According to these reports, a 70-year-old Dutch citizen died on April 11, who was not tested for the virus in time, which is why his case is considered "probable", VRT states.

On April 26, a 69-year-old Dutch woman, the wife of the previously deceased passenger, died. The infection was laboratory-confirmed in her in South Africa.

The third victim, a German citizen, died on May 2, but it has not yet been confirmed whether she was infected, nor is it known where her body is.

Of the five confirmed cases, in addition to the aforementioned Dutch passenger, the infection was also confirmed in a British citizen who is being treated in a hospital in South Africa, as well as in a Swiss citizen who is hospitalized in his country.

Meanwhile, a Dutch flight attendant was hospitalized with mild symptoms after contact with the deceased passenger during a KLM flight, and is currently being tested for the presence of the virus and is not included in the official statistics.