Well, this is discouraging. Recall that the newer (mRNA) vaccine candidate for hantavirus… is not approved yet, anywhere in the Western world. And the last-gen version [inactivated / killed virus approach] is only approved in… China.
That Chinese one has been pretty safe and effective in mainland China, but seems to only work well on Asian strains of hantavirus. So, having even one case in France, on the ground — or in the US interior… is disconcerting, given the relatively-highly lethal nature of it.
That said, both of these “positives” are showing only the mildest of symptoms, are isolated, and are getting tip top care. So it is unlikely to escape these very robust containment measures. Here’s the latest, from the Beeb:
…An American and a French national who have returned to their home countries having left a cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak of hantavirus have tested positive, authorities say.
In total seven cases of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius have been confirmed, with two other cases suspected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
The US health department said a second American national on the repatriation flight had also shown mild symptoms, adding that both passengers had travelled back in “biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution….”
Do be very vigilant — and if people are coughing on your international flights… do break out an n95 mask — and use it. Grin — it may not be 100% effective, but it cannot hurt. Onward.
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