PARIS, France, Aug 7, 2026 BSS/AFP) - French health authorities on Friday 
recommended home isolation for people who had close contact with a Franco-
Argentine tourist diagnosed with hantavirus after travelling in France, while 
stressing that the risk of transmission was considered "low".

"Given the mild, non-serious nature of the symptoms and the very low viral 
load observed," health experts recommended "home isolation for contacts, 
particularly the closest contacts", the health ministry said in a statement.

A case of the Andes strain of hantavirus, the only strain known to spread 
between humans, was confirmed on Thursday in a Franco-Argentine national who 
had been travelling in France in July.

The patient is now isolating with family in Spain and is asymptomatic.

Health authorities said the period during which the patient may have been 
contagious was from July 18-28.

"The risk of transmission is nevertheless considered low. It concerns only 
the closest contacts," the ministry said, adding that tracing of potential 
at-risk contacts was ongoing.

The ministry stressed the case was "in no way linked to the patients from the 
MV Hondius cruise ship in May 2026" -- an outbreak that led to the 
identification of 13 cases, including three deaths, and sparked international 
alarm.

Andes strain hantavirus, which is initially transmitted to humans by animals 
such as rodents, can cause severe pulmonary complications and is fatal in 30 
to 40 percent of cases.