The Chief Sanitary Inspector of Poland, Paweł Gżesewski, reported that one of the passengers associated with the MV Hondius flight may have come into contact with a hantavirus-infected individual. However, he has no symptoms, and the contact has not been confirmed — it is only a potential risk after crossing in Johannesburg.
The individual is under sanitary observation, which does not involve quarantine or isolation. This is a standard procedure: self-monitoring for six weeks and contact with sanitary services. It is noted that he remains abroad for now.
According to Gżesewski, the situation is under control, and the risk of virus spread is «practically zero.»
“We assess the risk of virus spread as practically zero. Firstly, the pathogen is known. Secondly, all infected individuals are under observation. Thirdly, the virus does not have pandemic potential. On the ship, out of 150 people, eight fell ill,” he explained.
On board the MV Hondius, eight out of 150 people were infected, three of whom died. Currently, five cases of illness have been confirmed: one in South Africa and four in Europe, all under observation.
The hantavirus is primarily transmitted through rodents and does not have pandemic potential. In Spain, three individuals who came into contact with the infected have also been isolated.
