Tunisia Reports No Cases of Hanta Virus Infection, Authorities Assure Public
The Director General of the National Center for Pharmacovigilance, Riadh Daghfous, announced on Friday that Tunisia has not recorded any cases of Hanta virus infection. Despite concerns raised by recent cases reported on a cruise ship in the Canary Islands, Daghfous urged citizens not to panic.
In a statement to Tunis Afrique Presse, Daghfous assured that "there is no reason to fear the spread of the Hanta virus in Tunisia." He explained that the country's health authorities are closely monitoring the international situation.
The Hanta virus, first identified in the 1950s, has several variants that are primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents, including their feces, urine, or saliva. Contamination can also occur through inhalation of contaminated particles in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. In rare cases, the virus can be transmitted through bites or scratches from rodents.
According to Daghfous, the symptoms of infection resemble those of seasonal flu, including joint and abdominal pain, headaches, and fever. Some strains can cause severe complications affecting the lungs or kidneys.
Daghfous noted that no internationally recognized vaccine is currently available against the Hanta virus. Existing treatments focus on managing symptoms. He added that the mortality rate can range from 35% to 50% depending on the strain and complications observed.
The Tunisian official also highlighted ongoing research in various laboratories worldwide to study the genetic characteristics of the virus and better understand the risks of human-to-human transmission.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified that several variants of the Hanta virus are circulating in North, Central, and South America, including the Andes variant, which is known to cause limited human-to-human transmission, particularly in Argentina and Chile.
The WHO distinguishes these American variants from Hanta viruses present in Europe and Asia, where no human-to-human transmission has been documented.
International attention has recently focused on the virus after several suspected cases emerged on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which arrived in Tenerife. Spanish authorities implemented a strict health protocol, including isolating passengers and monitoring their health before repatriation.
According to specialized media outlets, five confirmed cases of the Andes variant were reported among eight suspected cases on the ship. Three deaths have also been reported since the ship departed from Ushuaia on April 1.
During a press conference on Thursday, the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, dismissed any comparison between this health episode and the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the situation remains "limited" and does not constitute a global health emergency.
The organization has also reaffirmed that the risk of transmission to the general population, including residents of the Canary Islands, remains low.
Read more: Virus Hanta: faut-il vraiment s'inquiéter ? Une spécialiste répond
