Jersey hantavirus risk 'very low' - Public Health

Health officials in Jersey have described the hantavirus risk to Jersey as "very low".

Public Health Jersey said it continued to work with colleagues in the UK to monitor the situation.

The outbreak began on a cruise ship that set off from Argentina a month ago, leading to a small number of deaths and hospitalisations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed it was not the start of a pandemic.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents, but health experts believe it may in this case have passed between humans in close contact.

On Thursday, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organization (WHO) stressed it was not the start of a pandemic, saying: "This is not Covid, this is not influenza, it spreads very, very differently."

Unlike diseases such as measles, which are highly contagious and spread easily, the strain of hantavirus behind the outbreak is not considered that infectious.

Public Health Jersey said it was "not aware of any Jersey residents affected by this current situation".

It said "the risk to the wider UK and Jersey population is very low" and suggested that anyone concerned should review the latest information from the UK Health Security Agency.

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