The European Union has activated its health security response mechanisms following a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, as EU authorities continue to assess the situation and coordinate with Member States and international partners.
European Commission Director-General for Health and Food Safety Sandra Gallina said the EU’s health security system moved into immediate action after the first hantavirus alert was sent through the bloc’s Early Warning and Response System last Saturday.
“This is a fast-evolving situation, still with plenty of uncertainty,” Gallina stated, adding that the EU Health Union preparedness framework is currently being used to coordinate response efforts across Europe.
According to Gallina, the European Commission has convened daily Health Security Committee meetings and discussions with G7 partners, while also maintaining bilateral and multilateral coordination calls focused on response planning and passenger repatriation efforts.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has been supporting the response by providing scientific assessments and deploying an EU Health Taskforce expert to the affected cruise ship to assist with epidemiological investigations. EU reference laboratories are also involved in sequencing the virus.
Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed it is actively monitoring the outbreak in coordination with other EU bodies.
Authorities identified the virus involved as Andes hantavirus — currently the only known hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission. Experts say transmission generally requires close and prolonged contact.
Based on currently available evidence, ECDC continues to classify the risk to the general population in Europe as “very low”.
At present, there are no authorised antiviral treatments or vaccines for hantavirus infections. Clinical management relies mainly on supportive treatment and access to intensive care when needed.
EMA said its Emergency Task Force is prepared to support the development and regulatory evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics targeting hantaviruses. As part of its preparedness work, the agency has already mapped developers working on antivirals, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines related to hantaviruses.
The agency also said that identifying repurposed antivirals and immunomodulatory treatments remains a priority in order to reduce severe illness and mortality among affected patients.
EMA additionally warned against misinformation circulating online that falsely links hantavirus infections to COVID-19 vaccination.
“There is no scientific evidence to support such claims,” the agency stated.
EU authorities said monitoring and coordination efforts will continue over the coming days and weeks together with the World Health Organization, ECDC, national authorities and international partners.
12.05.2026.
SOURCE
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7459258001389092864/
European Medicines Agency
