The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo has announced that the risk of Hantavirus infection for citizens in Kosovo and EU/EEA countries is assessed as very low, despite the recent cases reported on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic.

According to data published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), until May 6, 2026, seven cases of Hantavirus have been reported on a ship cruises, including three victims, while the Andes virus (ANDV), which is endemic in Argentina, has been confirmed in some samples.

IKSHPK emphasizes that human-to-human transmission occurs only after close and prolonged contact and does not spread easily. Health authorities have implemented preventive measures on ships, while the risk to the general population remains very low.

The institute informs that hemorrhagic fever with kidney syndrome, caused by hantaviruses, is not a new disease in Kosovo and the number of cases reported over the years remains low and stable. During the period 2021-2025, a total of eight cases were reported in Kosovo.

Hantaviruses are transmitted from rodents to humans, mainly through contact with the urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain and, in more severe cases, kidney damage or respiratory problems.

According to IKSHPK, the most at risk are forest workers, farmers and people who work in premises where rodents are present. There is currently no licensed vaccine against Hantavirus in Europe and there is no specific antiviral treatment.

The Institute recommends avoiding contact with rodents, cleaning and ventilating closed spaces, as well as using masks and gloves when cleaning spaces where rodents may be present.

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Source: prizrenpost