Swedish health authorities have sought to reassure the public that the risk of hantavirus infection remains low, even as an outbreak on a Dutch-operated cruise liner has resulted in three confirmed deaths and at least nine infections.
Sweden’s acting state epidemiologist, Erik Sturegård, has stated that the country’s authorities assess the risk of hantavirus spreading among the general population as low.
Speaking at a press conference streamed on the Swedish government’s official YouTube channel, he emphasised that both the World Health Organisation and the European Commission had evaluated the overall risk of infection to the wider public as very low.
“We share this assessment,” Sturegård said. “There is currently no reason to believe otherwise.”
According to broadcaster SVT, a Swedish citizen was on board the cruise ship MV Hondius. The individual is now being monitored by the disease control unit in their region of residence. Sweden’s Public Health Agency has confirmed that the man is not showing any symptoms of the disease and has been placed in home isolation.
An outbreak of the potentially fatal hantavirus was recorded on the Dutch-operated cruise liner MV Hondius, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde. Three people have died as a result of the incident. On May 10, the World Health Organisation confirmed nine cases of hantavirus infection. Swedish epidemiologists continue to monitor the situation but have not introduced any additional restrictions for the public.
