France checks whether the MV Hondius hantavirus strain may have changed
Science and data reviewer
Timestamp shown in UTC unless otherwise indicated.
France has started speaking carefully about the biggest fear in this outbreak. Officials are checking whether the hantavirus strain linked to MV Hondius may have changed.
There is no proof of that yet. But full genetic sequencing is not finished either.
What French officials said
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said scientists still cannot give a final answer. According to her, the virus sequencing process is not complete.
She added that experts are not fully relaxed. But they also do not see signs of a worst-case scenario right now.
"We still cannot say with certainty that the virus has not changed, although there is no reason to panic at this stage," Health Minister Stephanie Rist said.
What scientists have already seen
Epidemiologist Olivier Schwartz of the Pasteur Institute said two viral sequences have been studied so far. One came from Zurich, and the other was produced in France.
The two samples looked very similar. That matters, because it does not point toward a new mutation for now.
The World Health Organization also said it sees nothing unusual in the strain itself. Officials still describe it as the Andes hantavirus strain already known from earlier outbreaks.
Why monitoring is still intense
The outbreak has already reached nine confirmed cases. More cases may appear later because the virus has a long incubation period.
French authorities have traced 22 contacts. Those people are being tested and kept under hospital monitoring.
- WHO confirmed cases: 9
- Contacts traced in France: 22
- French passengers on board: 5
- Confirmed positive French passengers: 1
What France knows so far
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| French passengers | 5 |
| Positive tests | 1 |
| Negative tests | 4 |
| Contacts under monitoring | 22 |
| Condition of patient | Intensive care |
President Emmanuel Macron said the situation is currently under control. But can anyone fully relax before sequencing is complete?
That is why France is leaning on strict contact tracing. Right now, that remains the main barrier against new chains of transmission.