The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is actively monitoring the ongoing hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, in coordination with other EU bodies, and issued a statement today condemning misinformation that falsely connects the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship with COVID-19 vaccination.
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What the European Medicines Agency announced
The EMA states the following in its official announcement: “The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus, the only hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person, which typically requires close, prolonged contact. Based on currently available data, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classifies the risk to the general population in Europe as very low. Clinical management is based on supportive care and early access to intensive care units. There are currently no approved antiviral therapies or vaccines for hantavirus. The EMA, through its Emergency Task Force (ETF), is ready to support the development and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutic agents for hantaviruses. As part of its preparedness activities, the EMA has now mapped manufacturers of medicines, particularly antivirals, monoclonal antibodies and hantavirus vaccines. The identification of repurposable immunomodulators for treatment and repurposable antivirals for post-exposure prophylaxis are priorities for reducing morbidity and mortality in affected individuals.
European Medicines Agency warning
The EMA warns against misinformation circulating on the internet that falsely links hantavirus infection with COVID-19 vaccination, as there is no scientific evidence to support such claims. The EMA will continue to exchange information with the ECDC, the European Commission and the European network of medicines regulatory authorities in the coming days and weeks and will provide updates as required”.
