Swedish health authorities have sought to calm public concern over a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, stating that the risk of a wider pandemic remains extremely low.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, acting state epidemiologist Erik Sturegard said both the World Health Organization and the European Commission assessed the threat to the general public as minimal, adding that Swedish authorities agreed with that conclusion.
The outbreak has been connected to the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare virus that affects the lungs and can spread between humans under certain conditions. Three passengers aboard the cruise ship have died from the infection.
Sturegard noted that the disease may carry a mortality rate of up to 30%, although officials stressed that it is not considered highly contagious.
A Swedish passenger who traveled on the ship is currently being monitored by regional infectious disease specialists and remains in home isolation despite showing no symptoms, according to the Public Health Agency. Authorities added that the virus can have an incubation period of up to two months.
Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed said the government stands ready to respond rapidly if the situation changes. Meanwhile, Public Health Agency Director-General Olivia Wigzell confirmed that international coordination efforts are ongoing to manage the outbreak effectively.
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