The Ministry of Health of Turkey has confirmed in the last few hours that no cases of hantavirus have been detected in the country, following growing public concern over the infections reported on board the cruise ship MV Hondius, which is currently heading for the Canary Islands, and after new cases of infection have emerged in several countries, including Spain.
In a written statement addressing the hantavirus cases that have recently been the focus of public attention, the ministry emphasised that the situation regarding the virus is being closely monitored and that no cases have been detected anywhere in the country, stressing that all reports of possible hantavirus infections are being assessed in accordance with scientific data, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet informed.
“The results of investigations carried out so far have not detected any positive cases in our country. It is important that our citizens take into account only the statements made by official authorities and exercise caution regarding unverified information circulating publicly. Our Ministry, together with all its relevant units, continues its work without interruption on detection, prevention, control and monitoring of all infectious diseases that may threaten public health,” the statement concluded.
This official statement comes amid the public alarm triggered by the cases reported on the MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying nearly 150 passengers travelling from Ushuaia (Argentina) to Cape Verde, which has been the focus of global attention following an outbreak on board of hantavirus – one of the deadliest viruses in existence, with a mortality rate exceeding 50% — which has already caused several deaths.
Turkish passengers denounce the lack of measures on the ship
The Turkish YouTuber and travel content creator Ruhi Çenet is one of the passengers who was travelling on board the ship, and has been reporting on the situation on board via social media, where he has openly criticised the crew’s handling of the viral outbreak, claiming that the situation was not taken seriously following the first passenger death and that no quarantine measures were implemented, which led to further infections on board and, potentially, among others who came into contact with the infected individuals when they disembarked.
For now, the WHO insists on classifying the current risk of hantavirus to the global population as “low”, although genomic sequencing studies and monitoring efforts continue amid suspicions that this particular strain may be much more contagious and not require close contact.
However, specialists such as the Turkish infectious disease expert Sıla Akhan have pointed out in the media that, although the hantavirus has been known for many years and has a low transmission rate, the risk should not be underestimated: “It is not a new virus that spreads as rapidly as COVID, but it would be a mistake to completely ignore its potential,” she stated.
Cases of hantavirus recorded in recent years in Turkey
Turkey has in fact historically recorded cases of infection with hantavirus strains. The first recorded case dates back to 1997, when cases were identified in people admitted for kidney failure in Izmir, in the Turkish Aegean region, according to some studies.
Years later, scientific reports show that another outbreak in the Black Sea region infected a dozen people and, in 2010, led to the death of a 22-year-old patient admitted to Silivri Public Hospital, west of Istanbul, after presenting symptoms such as fatigue, generalised pain, nausea and vomiting: the young man died two days after being admitted to the ICU.
Research published in 2014 indicated that the number of hantavirus cases detected in the country up to that point totalled 28; however, the strain of hantavirus present in Turkey mainly causes Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which is different from that found in South America and related to the cases detected on board the cruise ship Hondius, linked to the variant known as Andes virus, which mainly causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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