EU activates crisis mechanism to monitor hantavirus outbreak

The Cyprus Presidency has activated the EU’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements as part of efforts to monitor the hantavirus outbreak that has prompted increased vigilance among member states.

A Cypriot official said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to facilitate information-sharing and coordination between EU countries.

The IPCR mechanism is used during major cross-border crises and provides a platform for exchanges between member states, the European Commission and relevant agencies. Officials said the framework would help improve situational awareness should additional cases emerge.

Coordination is already taking place through EU health and civil protection networks. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has been involved in the response since being notified on 2 May and has been cooperating with member states.

Cypriot officials said the Presidency considered it prudent to formalise cooperation through the IPCR framework because of uncertainties linked to the outbreak and the virus’s incubation period.

According to the ECDC, 11 cases had been reported in Europe as of 14 May, including eight confirmed infections, two probable cases and one inconclusive result.

The agency said additional infections among former passengers and crew connected to the outbreak could still emerge in the coming weeks due to the virus’s long incubation period.

ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said the agency’s precautionary approach since the beginning of the outbreak had been important.

The ECDC continues to assess the overall threat to the EU and EEA population as “very low”, noting that hantaviruses are not easily transmitted between humans when appropriate infection-control measures are applied.