Version of hantavirus behind deadly outbreak matches known strain, France says
Genomic analysis showed the virus found aboard the MV Hondius shows no evidence of new characteristics so far.
France's Pasteur Institute said it has fully sequenced the Andes virus detected in a French passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship and found it matched viruses already known in South America, with no evidence so far of new characteristics that would make it more transmissible or more dangerous .
"The analyzed virus corresponds to the viruses already known and monitored in South America," Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Friday on social media.
"At this stage, no element suggests the emergence" of a form of the virus that could be more transmissible or more dangerous, Rist added. The Andes virus is the only form of hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person.
Pasteur said genomic analysis confirmed the virus found in the French passenger matched the virus detected in other cases aboard the ship and closely resembled known Andes virus samples circulating in South America.
"This sequencing work allows us to better understand the virus and to ensure close health monitoring," Rist said. The data would be shared with the international scientific community, she added.
Hantaviruses are a family of rare viruses usually passed to humans through contact with contaminated rodent waste or saliva, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. Cases can result in severe pulmonary and respiratory distress.