“A case has never been detected or diagnosed in Cyprus, nor any clinical presentation suggesting the disease,” an infectious disease specialist said on Tuesday, as concern grows over a possible hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean linked to three deaths and three further cases.
Kostas Konstantinou, of the Nicosia General Hospital Infectious Disease Unit, said the risk to Cyprus was zero. The ship originated from South America, no Cypriot passengers were on board, and no special control measures at ports or airports were considered necessary. The specific virus strain has not yet been identified, he noted, and passengers may have been exposed either during the voyage or before departure.
Hantavirus is a group of viruses causing two distinct clinical syndromes. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, more common in the Americas, carries a mortality rate of 30% to 40%. Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, more prevalent in Europe, is milder with a mortality rate of one to 10%. Transmission occurs primarily through inhaling aerosols from rodent secretions rather than through human-to-human contact, with the exception of rare cases involving a specific South American strain. No specific treatment is available and management relies on early diagnosis and supportive care.
Sporadic cases have been recorded in northern Greece, including a small cluster in 2012, Konstantinou noted.
Cyprus preparedness
The Cypriot health system has a response plan for haemorrhagic fevers and the Nicosia General Hospital Infectious Disease Unit is ready to manage a potential case if one is diagnosed, Konstantinou said. He also advised travellers to inform themselves about health conditions at their destinations and take the recommended precautions before travelling.
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