Health ministries assess hantavirus risk following cruise ship reports

The Ministry of Health has evaluated the risk of hantavirus to the general population in Europe as very low. This announcement follows reports of infection incidents occurring on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic. Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through contact with rodents, such as mice and rats, or their contaminated waste. The Ministry clarified that human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and not a standard pathway for the virus. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the situation is being closely monitored by international and European health authorities. National health agencies remain in continuous cooperation with international organizations to assess epidemiological data and implement existing preparedness protocols. The national health system has confirmed it is fully prepared with laboratory support and management plans for any potential cases. The public is advised to rely exclusively on official sources for information regarding the situation.