French President Emmanuel Macron stated Tuesday that the hantavirus situation in France is "under control" and called for robust European-wide coordination to contain the outbreak. Speaking from Nairobi at the Africa Forward summit, Macron credited the government's swift measures and healthcare workers for the stable situation.
Paris, along with Madrid and other nations, adopted one of the strictest protocols based on expert recommendations. Macron stressed the need for EU protocols to align with the highest standards and for the World Health Organization to coordinate the next stages effectively.
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told the National Assembly there is "no evidence" of widespread circulation of the Andes hantavirus strain in France and that the virus has not mutated. All confirmed cases remain limited to cruise ship passengers.
France has contacted, tested, and hospitalized all 22 contact cases. However, one French woman infected on the cruise ship remains critically ill in Paris, on an artificial lung due to severe lung and heart complications, according to Dr. Xavier Lescure at Bichat Hospital.
Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault described the situation as "unusual and unprecedented," noting that health authorities are taking strong measures due to uncertainty. He characterized hantavirus as a "neglected tropical disease."