The UN Secretary General called the low probability of an outbreak of hantavirus in Europe

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the risk to public health due to the outbreak of hantavirus currently remains low. He wrote about this on May 11 on the social network X (ex. Twitter).

According to the UN chief, the international community must continue to coordinate efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of people.

"I want to express my support to the Government of Spain and other countries in their work to combat hantavirus in close coordination with our colleagues from WHO," Guterres said.

He stressed that, despite the low current risk to public health, it is necessary to maintain increased attention to the situation.

"While the current risk to public health from the virus remains low, it is important that international health efforts ensure the safety of all, including the passengers and crew of the MV Hondius," the UN Secretary General wrote.

The deadly Hantavirus is spreading in Europe after an outbreak on a liner. What you need to know

The MV Hondius liner, where an outbreak of hantavirus was recorded at the beginning of the month, arrived at the shores of the Spanish island on May 10 to evacuate. It was reported that at least three deaths of passengers from the strain, which may be called "Andes", were detected on the ship.

On May 9, Reuters reported that two suspected cases of hantavirus infection had been identified in Spain and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean. It was clarified that these people are not related to the MV Hondius liner, where the outbreak occurred earlier.

On May 10, the Russian embassy in Madrid reported that a Russian from the crew of the liner on which the outbreak of the virus was recorded would remain on board the ship until the Netherlands, where disinfection would be carried out.