French Prime Minister Calls for EU Coordination to Contain Hantavirus Outbreak

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked his government to boost cooperation and coordination with other EU countries “immediately” to prevent further spread of hantavirus.

Lecornu said improved international coordination is “essential” to stop the virus from spreading after an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius and called to “strengthen cooperation with neighboring states and to push for closer coordination of the health protocols in place within the European Union and the Schengen Area.”

“Breaking any potential chains of transmission requires sharing information, decisions, and lessons learned as quickly as possible,” Lecornu wrote Tuesday on X. One French citizen has been infected with the virus.

The World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Spain — which allowed the virus-stricken ship to dock Sunday — and the Netherlands — the home of the ship’s operator — have been leading the public health and logistical effort to contain the outbreak and repatriate citizens.

The WHO recommended monitoring passengers and crew, plus any close contacts, for 42 days, in isolation at home or a quarantine facility.

So far, 11 cases have been reported, including three deaths. All 11 cases are among passengers or crew, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press briefing Tuesday alongside Spanish premier Pedro Sánchez.

The Andes strain, the only variant known to transmit between people, has been identified.

“WHO is aware of reports of a small number of patients with symptoms consistent with Andes virus, and we are following up on each of those reports with the respective countries,” Tedros said.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist has already been in contact with other European officials, Lecornu said, and had “shared with them the public health decisions that the French government has already taken.”

One of the five French citizens who had traveled on the virus-stricken cruise ship at the center of the outbreak tested positive for hantavirus on Monday and was placed in intensive care. The other four, as well as eight people who traveled on a flight with an infected passenger two weeks ago, have been isolated in hospitals.

“Our public health response is clear: all close contacts, without exception, must undergo enhanced quarantine in a hospital setting,” Lecornu said Monday.