JERUSALEM - Israel has recorded its first diagnosed case of hantavirus, with health officials confirming that a patient contracted the European strain of the virus during a trip to Eastern Europe several months ago .
The patient, whose identity has not been disclosed, sought medical care after developing symptoms that included high fever and muscle aches. Laboratory tests detected antibodies indicating exposure to the virus, and a subsequent PCR test confirmed the infection .
According to Israeli media reports, the patient is in stable condition under medical observation, does not require intensive care, and is not being placed in strict isolation . The case has been officially reported to Israel's Ministry of Health.
Health experts emphasize that the European (Old World) strain of hantavirus detected in Israel is distinct from the deadly Andes (New World) strain responsible for an ongoing outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius off the coast of Cape Verde .
| Feature | European Strain (HFRS) | Andes Strain (HPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic origin | Europe, Asia | South America |
| Clinical syndrome | Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) | Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) |
| Human-to-human transmission | No documented transmission | Rare but possible |
| Severity | Generally milder; 1-15% mortality for HFRS | More severe; up to 35-50% mortality for HPS |
The European strain is primarily transmitted through inhalation of aerosolized particles from infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, typically in enclosed spaces . It does not spread from person to person.
The cruise ship outbreak involves the Andes strain, which has documented rare human-to-human transmission capabilities and has resulted in at least three confirmed deaths - a Dutch couple and a German national - among passengers aboard the MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 .
Israeli health authorities have confirmed that there are currently no active hantavirus cases in the country beyond this single imported case .
Dr. Daniel Grupel of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department at Hadassah Hospital stated that he is not aware of any recent hantavirus cases in Israel aside from this unconfirmed report, and emphasized that there is no evidence of local spread .
The Ministry of Health has not issued any public alert, as the virus requires close contact with the droppings of specific rodents not commonly found in Israeli urban areas. Transmission conditions in Israel are not conducive to an outbreak similar to the cruise ship situation .
While the risk to the general public in Israel remains extremely low, health authorities recommend that citizens maintain basic hygiene precautions, particularly when traveling to rural areas of Eastern Europe or South America :
Avoid direct contact with live or dead rodents
Keep food protected in airtight containers
Properly ventilate enclosed spaces that have been unoccupied for long periods in rural areas
Use protective measures in endemic zones
The World Health Organization has stated that the risk to the wider public from the cruise ship outbreak remains low, emphasizing that it is "a specific, confined setting where people are interacting in prolonged close contact" .
Hantavirus refers to a group of viruses primarily transmitted by rodents. More than 50 types exist, causing two main clinical syndromes :
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) - Found in Europe and Asia, this strain affects the kidneys. Onset is characterized by sudden high fever, headache, back pain, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can progress to low blood pressure, shock, and kidney failure.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) - Found in the Americas, this strain affects the lungs and is more severe.
The incubation period averages about two weeks but can extend up to six weeks . Diagnosis is confirmed through serological tests (detecting antibodies) or PCR (detecting viral genetic material).
While there is no specific antiviral treatment, supportive care - including renal dialysis in severe HFRS cases - is critical. Most patients recover fully, though recovery can take three to six weeks .
Israel's epidemiological surveillance system continues to monitor the international situation in coordination with the World Health Organization. The WHO has informed 12 countries whose nationals disembarked earlier in Saint Helena: Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkiye, the UK, and the US .
The MV Hondius is currently sailing toward the Canary Islands in Spain, where medical evacuations will be conducted under strict biosecurity protocols .
The total toll from the cruise ship outbreak includes more than 30 people having left the vessel at St. Helena on April 24 - the scheduled end of the cruise for some passengers - before the outbreak was fully detected, creating a challenge for international contact tracing efforts .
