European Commission Says No Immediate Concern Over Hantavirus Spread in EU After Cruise Ship Cases

The European Commission said there is currently no indication of a broader public health threat linked to the hantavirus cases connected to the cruise ship MV Hondius, stressing that the situation is being closely monitored at the European level.

Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stated that, at this stage, there is no reason for concern regarding the spread of the virus within the European Union. “There is currently no reason to worry about the spread of hantavirus in the EU,” she said.

According to the Commission, European health authorities remain in constant coordination over the situation. Itkonen confirmed that a meeting involving European health experts, national health services, and representatives of the World Health Organization had already taken place to assess developments surrounding the outbreak.

She added that another coordination meeting was scheduled with the participation of countries whose citizens were aboard the Hondius vessel, as authorities continue monitoring passengers and possible contacts.

The cruise ship remains near Cape Verde with approximately 150 people onboard, most of them tourists from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Spain. The voyage began in Argentina in March before the outbreak triggered international concern and health monitoring procedures.

So far, two hantavirus infections have been officially confirmed among passengers connected to the ship, while five additional suspected cases are still under investigation.

European institutions and national authorities are continuing to exchange information as precautionary monitoring measures remain in place, although officials insist that the overall risk assessment for the wider public remains low.