First Case of Hanta Virus Recorded in France

SadaNews - The French Minister of Health announced today, Monday, the registration of the first case of Hanta virus in France.

Last Saturday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, sought to reassure the residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife that the risk associated with the arrival of a ship, which was found to have an outbreak of the Hanta virus on board, is "minimal," thanking them for their "solidarity."

In an open letter addressed to the island's residents, to which the ship "MV Hondias," flying the Dutch flag, was due to arrive last Sunday morning, he stated, "I need you to hear me clearly: this is not a new COVID. The risk currently posed by the Hanta virus to public health remains low."

The situation has raised concerns among the local population, and regional authorities refused to allow the ship to dock, deciding to keep it at sea pending testing of the passengers, followed by their evacuation.