Ukraine records dozens of hantavirus infection cases annually, announces the Ukrainian Public Health Center.

Mykola Hanich, the spokesperson for the Public Health Center of Ukraine, announced that the country registers dozens of hantavirus infection cases annually, with the virus being transmitted exclusively from rodents to humans. Infection can occur through dust, contaminated surfaces, or food exposed to animal droppings. To reduce the risk of infection, it is recommended to wet clean the affected areas, avoiding sweeping, which can raise contaminated dust.

Recently, an outbreak of hantavirus broke out on the cruise ship MV Hondius, causing the death of three people. Approximately 150 tourists were on board, and two passengers were diagnosed with hantavirus after evacuation in the Netherlands. A Swiss citizen who traveled on the affected ship tested positive after returning home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine confirmed that five Ukrainian citizens were on the MV Hondius, without signs of health deterioration. The ship recently arrived in the port of Tenerife, Spain.