Hantavirus has not mutated to be more transmissible: WHO
(NewsNation) — The World Health Organization announced on Friday that currently hantavirus The virus that caused an outbreak on a cruise ship has mutated to be more severe or contagious.
This news came amidst fear wider epidemic Andean hantavirus there is no cure and can be fatal.
WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said that geneticists sequenced the virus that infected those on the ship.
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“What they told me and what they said is that they didn’t detect any changes that would make the virus more transmissible, more severe or suggest any change like that,” Van Kerkove said.
a follow up epidemic on cruise shipCaused the death of three people other passengers In order to prevent the spread of the virus, people disembarking are monitored and quarantined.
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WHO officials said that quarantines and monitoring were carried out very carefully to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Andean hantavirusSomething that can be transmitted between people.
“So we are taking a precautionary approach, assuming there may be other cases on the ship, which is why the quarantine measures are so strict for those who have already left the ship,” Van Kerkhove said.
The World Health Organization recommends that those on board quarantine for 42 days to prevent potential spread hantavirus.
They emphasize that the overall risk to the public remains low.
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