The French Ministry of Health announced on Thursday, August 6, that a case of hantavirus has been detected on French territory. The patient is a tourist who transited through France during the second half of July.
The patient is currently isolated with his family in Spain and no longer presents symptoms.
Strain identification and background
The National Reference Center for Hantaviruses confirmed on Thursday that the identified strain is the Andes strain.
The Andes strain is present in South America and possesses a rare capacity for human-to-human transmission through close and prolonged contact.
At this stage, we are not facing a virus exhibiting diffuse circulation in the population.
Health response and clinical details
The French Ministry of Health stated that all management measures are in place to care for the patient and trace the steps of his journey. French health authorities are establishing measures to respond to the case, and European-level coordination has been established.
A group of scientific experts is meeting on Thursday at 3 p.m., in coordination with the Directorate General of Health and Santé Publique France, to determine the appropriate response and management measures for this imported case.
The incubation period for hantavirus can range from one to six weeks. Infection typically begins with a flu-like syndrome featuring fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Severe cases can progress to renal impairment or severe respiratory distress.
