Following several suspicious deaths aboard a cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde, hantavirus has once again become a major health concern. This rare disease, primarily transmitted by rodents, is not unknown in France. For several years, cases have been regularly reported in certain northeastern regions, particularly in the Jura and Doubs departments.
While international health authorities are still trying to precisely identify the strain involved in this case, many questions are emerging: can this virus become dangerous for the population? What symptoms should be monitored? And above all, should there really be cause for concern in France?
Three deaths aboard a cruise ship reignite concerns
Since April 11, a scientific cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people has been placed under surveillance after several deaths linked to a suspected viral infection. According to initial information relayed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the victims may have been infected with a form of hantavirus.
Specialists currently favor the theory of contamination occurring before boarding, likely through contact with infected rodents. However, some experts are also investigating the possibility of secondary transmission between humans, an extremely rare phenomenon but one already observed with certain strains in South America.
This situation quickly revived concerns about this virus, which is still little known to the general public.
Hantavirus is not just one virus, but a whole family
Contrary to what its name suggests, hantavirus does not refer to a single disease. It is actually a family of viruses present in several regions of the world, with very different forms depending on the continent.
In Europe and Asia, the infections primarily cause a disease called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The kidneys are then the organs most affected.
In America, some strains are much more aggressive and can cause severe pulmonary syndrome, sometimes leading to rapid and fatal respiratory distress.
This diversity greatly complicates the work of health authorities, as symptoms and severity vary enormously depending on the strain involved.
