Tunisia's Health Authorities Reassure Public Over Hanta Virus
No Link Between Hanta Virus and Coronavirus, Says Tunisian Medical Expert
The head of the intensive care unit at Tunisia's Abderrahmane Mami Hospital, Dr. Jalila Ben Khelil, has stated that there is no connection between the Hanta virus and the coronavirus. She urged people to avoid panic, citing the low transmission rate between humans and the limited number of cases reported.
Speaking on Jawhara FM, Dr. Ben Khelil emphasized that no cases of the Hanta virus have been recorded in Tunisia to date, and that the situation does not pose a particular epidemiological risk in the country.
Understanding the Hanta Virus
The Hanta virus has been known since the 1930s and primarily spreads to humans through contact with rodents, such as rats and mice, via their feces or by inhaling contaminated dust. Dr. Ben Khelil noted that this virus is not new, unlike COVID-19, and is mainly found in North and South America, as well as Asia. In Europe, including France, cases are extremely rare, numbering less than 100, according to her estimates.
Preventing the Spread of the Hanta Virus
Dr. Ben Khelil stressed that there is no specific treatment or vaccine for the Hanta virus. She recommended simple prevention measures, including:
- Avoiding dry cleaning of rodent droppings
- Using suitable disinfectants
- Washing hands thoroughly after handling rodents or their waste
Context of Increased Health Vigilance
This clarification comes at a time of heightened health vigilance, following the announcement by French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist that a passenger on a cruise ship had tested positive for the Hanta virus. Twenty-two contact cases have been identified in France, according to health authorities.
