Britain Receives Experimental Favipiravir for 3-Death Hantavirus Outbreak on Hondius
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 19
Britain Receives Experimental Favipiravir for 3-Death Hantavirus Outbreak on Hondius
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 19
Britain took delivery over the weekend of favipiravir from Japan to reinforce treatment stocks for the hantavirus outbreak tied to the Hondius cruise ship, UKHSA said.
Three people have died in an outbreak linked to the liner, with eight confirmed cases and two probable cases; the ship docked in Rotterdam on Monday and crew and medical staff disembarked.
Favipiravir is not licensed in the UK and has no established protocol for hantavirus treatment, with experts saying evidence is limited to lab and animal studies rather than strong human trial data.
The outbreak involves Andes virus—the only hantavirus strain known to spread between people—but WHO said it has seen no sign of greater transmissibility or severity and no pandemic threat.
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