(Bloomberg) — A 25-year-old man placed in isolation in Italy has tested negative for hantavirus, easing fears of transmission on a flight that briefly hosted an infected Dutch woman.
A man from the southern region of Calabria spent some time near a Dutch passenger on a KLM flight in late April, according to Italian media. The woman died the next day. Rome’s Spallanzani Hospital performed tests on the Italian.
The risk to the wider public from the outbreak on the Hondius cruise ship remains low, according to public health officials, but the group has prompted a response from many countries as passengers are repatriated and monitored for symptoms that could last for weeks. Their contacts are also closely monitored.
The World Health Organization has recommended surveillance and quarantine for up to 42 days, reflecting the long incubation period of the virus and the uncertainty about when infected people can become infected. More cases may emerge due to the interaction of travelers before precautionary measures are put in place, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.
The Andean strain of hantavirus, found in South America, is the only known variant that can spread between humans, although transmission is thought to be rare and is usually associated with close or long-term contact. Still, scientists say the evidence base is limited and the conditions under which the virus spreads are not fully understood.
Health officials continue to trace contacts and monitor passengers in various countries as they assess how the virus is spreading on board and whether additional infections are occurring. Confirmation of the negative tests for the Italian KLM passenger came from a statement by the Italian Ministry of Health.
–With help from Jason Gale and Chiara Albanese.
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