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'Nothing Like COVID': Expert Urges Calm over Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship • FRANCE 24

France 24 aired an interview with former Institut Pasteur director Christian Brechot about the recent hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship that docked in the Canary Islands. The discussion centered on the virus’s incubation period, the current death toll, and the public health measures being taken. Brechot explained that the average incubation is roughly two weeks but can extend to six weeks, justifying the 42‑day quarantine imposed by authorities. He emphasized that human‑to‑human transmission is rare, contrasting the situation with COVID‑19, and noted that three passengers have died while overall spread remains low. The expert warned that the lack of rapid, onboard diagnostic kits delayed identification of cases, forcing passengers to be tested later at facilities such as the Institut Pasteur in France. He urged the development of portable testing and rapid isolation units, especially for lower‑income regions, to improve future outbreak responses. The episode underscores the need for stronger surveillance infrastructure and faster diagnostic tools in the travel sector. Policymakers and cruise operators may face pressure to adopt on‑board testing protocols, which could become a new industry standard for managing emerging zoonotic threats.