All 26 people under observation in France for possible hantavirus infection have tested negative, French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said in a post to X/Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
Rist explained that all 26 had been placed in quarantine in the hospital as a precautionary measure, but that it is now possible “to rule out any prior contamination of other individuals at this stage of the scientific work.”
“These 26 people will continue to be medically monitored and tested three times a week,” she wrote. “From now on, health authorities will no longer communicate these results, except in the event of a positive test.”
The recent cases of hantavirus first sparked global concern after three passengers died and several others tested positive aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
Hantavirus belongs to a family of viruses transmitted mainly by rodents, which shed the virus through urine, feces, and saliva. Humans are then infected when tiny particles from the dried secretions become airborne and are inhaled.
Such exposure can occur while cleaning a storage room, attic, equipment shed, cabin, summer home, or any enclosed area where mice or rats were present. Infection can also occur after touching a contaminated surface and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes. Rodent bites or scratches are another possible route of transmission, although less common.
Dr. Itay Gal contributed to this report.
