Hantavirus Alert in Italy: Woman Quarantined in Florence Amid Monitoring in Four Regions
The cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has been detected, is heading to Tenerife for the disembarkation of passengers and part of the crew. Arrival is expected on Saturday evening to Sunday night.
The Italian Ministry of Health reported that four citizens arrived in Italy on a KLM flight to Rome, where a woman who had been hospitalized in Johannesburg and later died from the virus had briefly boarded.
The contact details of the four passengers have been obtained, and the information has been forwarded to the relevant regions (Calabria, Campania, Tuscany, Veneto) to activate active monitoring procedures.
Tuscany: Woman placed under preventive quarantine
The health advisor for the Tuscany region, Monia Minni, announced that one woman has been placed in quarantine. "We immediately activated the necessary protocols and established contact with our compatriot currently residing in Florence," Minni stated, adding that the woman is "under preventive quarantine until clinical examinations are conducted to check for possible virus infection."
The Tuscany region clarified that the contact between the quarantined woman and the deceased woman in South Africa occurred during boarding and was neither close nor prolonged.
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"As a precautionary measure, the region has ordered clinical monitoring of the woman throughout the entire incubation period and tracking of contacts she had since the possible infection until now," the region's statement said. The advisor and governor of the area, Eugenio Giani, confirmed that health structures are on high alert and added, "Although the conditions of contact suggest a moderate risk, we do not underestimate any element and will continue to inform citizens promptly of any developments."
Ministry of Health: Italian Epidemiologist on Board MV Hondius
The Italian Ministry of Health has activated planned risk assessment, monitoring, and health coordination procedures in accordance with national and international protocols. Assessments agreed upon at the international level by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate a low risk to the general population worldwide and a very low risk in Europe.
Oceanwide Expeditions also updated the situation for passengers on the MV Hondius with its own message. Since May 6, an Italian doctor from the ECDC medical staff has been on board to support emergency response efforts.
