France advises home isolation for close contacts of hantavirus case

French health authorities on Friday recommended home isolation for people who had close contact with a Franco- Argentine tourist diagnosed with hantavirus after travelling in France, while stressing that the risk of transmission was considered "low". "Given the mild, non-serious nature of the symptoms and the very low viral load observed," health experts recommended "home isolation for contacts, particularly the closest contacts", the health ministry said in a statement.

A case of the Andes strain of hantavirus, the only strain known to spread between humans, was confirmed on Thursday in a Franco-Argentine national who had been travelling in France in July. The patient is now isolating with family in Spain and is asymptomatic. Health authorities said the period during which the patient may have been contagious was from July 18-28.

"The risk of transmission is nevertheless considered low. It concerns only the closest contacts," the ministry said, adding that tracing of potential at-risk contacts was ongoing. The ministry stressed the case was "in no way linked to the patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship in May 2026" -- an outbreak that led to the identification of 13 cases, including three deaths, and sparked international alarm. Andes strain hantavirus, which is initially transmitted to humans by animals such as rodents, can cause severe pulmonary complications and is fatal in 30 to 40 percent of cases.