France traces hantavirus case contacts across three regions

French health authorities are meticulously tracing the contacts of a franco-argentine tourist who tested positive for hantavirus in Spain, after the individual traveled through three French regions in late July. The tourist visited Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Normandy, and Île-de-France before falling ill.

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We are in a different situation than the cruise ship MV Hondius from last spring, because based on that experience, we know there were no secondary contagion cases.

Close contacts, defined as those who shared a household or had prolonged close contact within two meters, will be required to self-isolate at home for six weeks. Regional health agencies will monitor their well-being. Those considered less at risk will be asked to self-monitor.

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This 'hantavirus case imported from Argentina' no longer has symptoms of the disease and when he had them, they were not serious.

Officials emphasized that the situation is different from a previous cruise ship outbreak, where no secondary infections occurred. Sarah Sauneron, deputy director general of health in France, explained that the patient currently has no symptoms and experienced only mild illness. The viral load detected in tests is also "extremely weak," a factor that significantly reduces transmission risk, according to Professor Nathan Peiffer-Madja of Bichat Hospital in Paris.

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The viral load detected in the test is 'extremely weak,' and that is one of the important factors that determine the risk of transmission.