Moldovan health minister no cases of hantavirus registered in Moldova

The risk of hantavirus emerging in Moldova is low, and no cases of infection have been registered in the country so far. Health Minister Emil Ceban said that hantavirus is not transmitted from person to person, and contamination can occur only under specific conditions.

“This is a virus that is not transmitted from person to person, and a person can become infected only when inhaling dust or consuming food products contaminated with rodent excreta. For this to happen, there must be a very large number of rodents and the case being discussed represents a hotbed,” said Emil Ceban.

The minister specified that, in the event of infection, symptoms can vary and may include lung damage, manifested as pneumonia.

“Today in Moldova, we are keeping the situation under control. No cases of this virus have been registered and we hope not to have any infections. There may only be isolated local outbreaks,” the official emphasized.

According to the minister, health authorities are constantly monitoring the epidemiological situation. The National Public Health Agency is cooperating with all responsible institutions, including customs services, in order to identify any potential suspected cases at the border.

“People crossing the border are monitored, and if there are suspicions – fever, skin rashes or other symptoms – they are isolated,” added Emil Ceban.

Referring to the mortality rate associated with hantavirus, the minister said that the specialized literature does not indicate a very high mortality, and statistics may seem more alarming due to the small number of cases reported internationally.

The National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) announces that the risk of hantavirus infection for the population of Moldova stays low, in the context of the recently reported cases on board a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to data by the World Health Organization, the initial symptoms of the disease are nonspecific and may resemble those of other acute infections. They generally appear one to eight weeks after exposure and include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In some cases, kidney damage and hemorrhagic manifestations may occur.

ANSP notes that, at present, the risk for the population in Europe is considered low. The prevention and control measures applied on board the ship are adequate and human-to-human transmission of hantaviruses is extremely rare and limited only to certain viral strains, which usually do not circulate in Europe.