France - Hantavirus Andes: an imported case, a French-Argentine national on a tourist trip in France, has been detected on the territory (August 06, 2

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Hantavirus Andes: an imported case, a French-Argentine national on tourist trip to France, has been detected in the territory

Published on 06.08.26

Health alerts, press releases and press kits

Health authorities have been informed of a case of hantavirus in the country. The Andes strain was confirmed by the National Reference Center (CNR) this Thursday, August 6. The patient, who is isolating with his family in Spain, is a tourist who transited through France during the second half of July. The patient, who was initially only mildly symptomatic, is no longer exhibiting any symptoms. All necessary management measures are being implemented to care for the patient and trace his travel history.

Today at 3 p.m., a group of scientific experts, in conjunction with the Directorate General of Health and Public Health France, is meeting to determine the appropriate course of action and management measures to be implemented regarding this imported case. Coordination at the European level is also being established.

The health authorities are fully mobilized and will communicate regularly on the evolution of the situation.

What is hantavirus and Andes hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are viruses transmitted by infected rodents, primarily through the inhalation of dust contaminated by their urine or feces. It is a rare but serious disease that can be fatal. In humans, some hantaviruses cause two types of illness:

• Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (especially in Europe and Asia);
• Cardiopulmonary syndrome (especially in America, more serious).

There are 140 types of hantavirus, present on all continents, including the Andes virus.

The Andes virus, found in South America, is distinguished by its rare ability to transmit from person to person through close and prolonged contact. After an incubation period of one to six weeks, the infection typically begins with flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches, and fatigue. Severe cases can progress to kidney damage or severe respiratory distress.

At this stage, we are not dealing with a virus that is circulating widely in the population.

​https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites-pr...anco-argentin-en-voyage-touristique-en-france

 

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Spain -

10:56 AM · Aug 6, 2026​
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Translation Google

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS THAT THE HANTAVIRUS CASE REMAINS ISOLATED IN GALICIA AND WITHOUT SYMPTOMS


07 08 2026

The Director General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Carmen Durán, reported this afternoon that the hantavirus patient treated in France remains isolated in Galicia and without symptoms.

The Director General conveyed a message of tranquility during an appearance before the media in which she was accompanied by the director of the Galician Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Marta Piñeiro, and the preventive physician and technician of the Ministry's Epidemiological Surveillance Service, María Otero.

Specifically, Carmen Durán insisted that, at the time the case traveled to Galicia, it had not presented symptoms since the previous week, and that hantavirus is not very transmissible between people and, if so, the risk when there are no symptoms is very low.

He explained that the Ministry of Health has activated the protocol for this disease and that the identified contacts are only two people from the family environment, who are also asymptomatic.

After a meeting this morning with technicians and officials from the Ministry of Health, the Director General of Public Health of the Xunta reported on the measures agreed within the framework of the protocol established for cases of hantavirus.

On the one hand, the person who tested positive in France will remain isolated in Galicia and the Ministry of Health will perform a PCR test to confirm that he is already negative for the virus and, if applicable, grant him epidemiological discharge.

On the other hand, the two close contacts must undergo a 42-day quarantine, coinciding with the incubation period of this virus. In this way, contagion will be ruled out. In addition, as indicated in the epidemiological surveillance protocol, PCR tests are also performed on close contacts.

The Director General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Carmen Durán, ended her appearance with a message of tranquility and confidence in the work of epidemiological control of the Galician Government. At the same time, she highlighted the coordination between the Xunta, the central Government and the French authorities, as administrations involved in the management of the case, in order to carry out epidemiological control and take the most guaranteeing measures.​

https://saladecomunicacion.sergas.gal/Paginas/DetalleNova.aspx?idioma=ga&idNova=17807&vista=clas ica

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France -

Cases of hantavirus in the Andes: transmission risk deemed very low and management measures implemented

Published on 07.08.26
Press releases and press kits - Diseases and Health

Health authorities have been informed of a case of hantavirus, confirmed this Thursday, August 6. The Franco-Argentine patient, isolated with his family in Galicia, Spain, is a tourist who transited through France during the second half of July. He is no longer showing symptoms. Health authorities immediately launched contact tracing operations to reconstruct his movements in France and identify individuals who may have been exposed

A very low viral load, synonymous with a very limited risk of transmission

Based on the initial results of the epidemiological investigation and in accordance with data from the scientific literature, health authorities estimate that the period during which the patient may have been contagious extends from July 18 to 28.

The risk of transmission is, however, considered low. It only concerns the closest contacts, namely people living under the same roof; people who have shared a room; prolonged and close contacts, particularly on transport; as well as healthcare professionals who have provided care without adequate protection.

Scientific experts have shown that the risk of transmission of the Andes hantavirus is directly correlated with the viral load. At the time of diagnosis, while presenting symptoms, the patient already had a very low viral load, indicating a very limited potential for transmission.

"Contact tracing" operations, conducted by the Regional Health Agencies in conjunction with Public Health France and the Directorate General of Health (DGS), are continuing in order to identify potential at-risk contacts.

In this context, given the mild and non-severe nature of the symptoms and the very low viral load observed, experts from ANRS-MIE and Public Health France recommend home isolation for contacts, especially those closest to the infected individual. This strategy is consistent with the recommendations of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

An isolated case with no link to the MV Hondius patients of May 2026

This patient has no established link to the Andes hantavirus outbreak that occurred on the cruise ship Mv Hondius last May, which had nearly 150 passengers of 23 nationalities on board. Several cases linked to this cluster presented with severe, sometimes fatal, forms of the illness. The observed transmissions were associated with the most severely ill patients, in whom the viral load was higher. This episode also confirmed the low level of contagiousness of the Andes hantavirus outside of high-risk exposure situations, as no secondary cases were identified among those considered low-risk contacts.

Health authorities remain fully mobilized. They are continuing their investigations in conjunction with all relevant stakeholders and will provide regular updates on the situation. To learn more:

• Consult the Public Health France website for information on the procedures to follow for contact cases and their close contacts.
• See the press release: Hantavirus Andes: an imported case involving a French-Argentine national on tourist trip to France has been detected in the territory
• Visit the Public Health France website to learn more about the disease.

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https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites-pr...e-transmission-juge-tres-faible-et-des-433372
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BFM News. Hantavirus: Contacts of the tourist who transited through France identified and contacted

Published today at 11:15 AM
Updated at 1:42 PM
BFM
Tom Kerkour

As BFM learned from the Health Crisis Center on Tuesday, August 11, the authorities were able to warn people who had been in more or less close contact with the Franco-Argentine who contracted the hantavirus.

Family, passengers, healthcare workers... The health investigation continues after a case of Andes hantavirus was identified in a French-Argentine national. As BFM learned from the Health Crisis Center on Tuesday, August 11, close contacts have been identified and notified.

These include the immediate family of the case, healthcare professionals who closely managed the case, and train and plane passengers.

"All these people have been contacted in order to self-isolate, as provided for in the procedure developed with scientific experts," says the Health Crisis Centre.

As a reminder, on Thursday, August 6, the Ministry of Health announced the identification, by the National Reference Center, of this strain in a patient who no longer presents any symptoms.

Moreover, according to the committee of scientific experts, "at the time of his diagnosis, when he presented symptoms, the patient already had a very low viral load, reflecting a very limited transmission potential", from July 18 to 28.

Six-week isolation period for "at-risk" contacts

During his time in France, the tourist visited several regions: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Normandy, and Île-de-France, as indicated by health authorities. Contact cases have been identified in these regions.

As the crisis center specifies, those who have been in contact must self-isolate. A protocol has been established based on the level of risk. For a contact considered "at risk," it is recommended to self-isolate at home for six weeks from the first contact.

While outings are permitted "to preserve mental health and well-being," using public transportation, for example, is not allowed. Wearing a medical mask is also required, and gatherings should be avoided.

For "low-risk" close contacts, "passive self-monitoring for the following symptoms is recommended: fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms, for up to 42 days (six weeks) after the last exposure," according to Public Health France . If symptoms develop, they are asked to self-isolate immediately and notify local health authorities.

https://www.bfmtv.com/sante/info-bf...-identifies-et-contactes_AN-202608110236.html