Monaco’s Princely Government says it is closely monitoring the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, following the disembarkation of passengers in the Canary Islands on 10th May before their repatriation to their home countries.

According to a statement released Thursday, no contact cases residing in the Principality have been identified at this stage.

Monaco’s health authorities are nonetheless fully mobilised, maintaining continuous surveillance of the situation in line with international recommendations and in coordination with local and regional health professionals. According to the government, the Principality holds strategic stocks of surgical masks and FFP2 masks should an epidemic risk materialise.

The government has characterised the current situation as a limited international cluster linked to a single index event, with no evidence of wider spread within the general population. It calls for heightened vigilance to enable the rapid detection of any imported cases and to ensure the health system remains prepared — without any impact on normal healthcare operations or the need for specific measures for the general public.

See also: 

Europe locks down hantavirus cruise passengers for 42 days as they return home

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti