Hantavirus in France: close contact case pretransmission ruled out

All hantavirus ‘contact cases’ recorded in France have tested negative meaning any prior transmission to other people can be ruled out, the health minister has announced.

Even if these contact cases were to test positive later on, they would not have been able to infect anyone before being isolated in hospital.

Despite testing negative and showing no symptoms, the concerned patients are being kept in hospital isolation as a precautionary measure. 

This is due to the virus’ high fatality rate and a long incubation period, which is currently estimated at 42 days.

“These 26 people will continue to receive medical monitoring and be tested three times a week. From now on, the health authorities will no longer report on these results, except in the event of a positive test,” stated Stéphanie Rist in a social media post on May 14. 

A couple from Vienne are among the hantavirus ‘contact cases’ after coming into contact with a Dutch woman who was unaware she had the disease on one of two flights, between Saint Helena and Johannesburg and Johannesburg - Amsterdam.

Five French nationals who were on board the MV Hondius cruise ship where the outbreak was first reported are isolating at a health facility in Paris. 

Among them, one woman is seriously ill after testing positive for the illness.

Protection against hantavirus 

Demand for face masks in France has increased fivefold in under a week since the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak. 

Health specialists say FFP2 masks can reduce exposure to respiratory droplets in close-contact situations, but stress they are not the primary tool against hantavirus in the current context.

Authorities maintain that standard hygiene measures and isolation of identified contacts remain the main strategy at present, and that the wider-population are not being advised to wear masks.