Romania has confirmed a case of hantavirus infection that is unrelated to cruise outbreaks.
The National Institute of Public Health (INSP)on Monday clarified that the infection involves a strain specific to Romania and Europe, and is not connected to the recent outbreak of the Andes virus, the hantavirus strain identified aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
The Arad County Public Health Directorate in western Romania reported that serological tests indicate it was a chronic infection, likely contracted during the patient’s previous hospitalization at a psychiatric unit.
The unidentified patient is in stable condition and remains hospitalized under medical supervision, it said. It added that that the best protection against infection is the use of masks and gloves when cleaning enclosed spaces that have been unused for long periods and may be inhabited by rodents.
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship killed three people recently, raising fears of a new pandemic. However, the World Health Organization has said that the overall risk to the public remains low.
