EU activates crisis response mechanism to monitor hantavirus outbreak
The Cyprus Presidency has activated the EU’s crisis coordination mechanism to strengthen information sharing on the hantavirus outbreak
The Cyprus Presidency has activated the EU’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements to intensify monitoring of the hantavirus outbreak that has prompted heightened vigilance across member states.
“As a matter of precaution, we have decided to make use of the integrated political crisis response meetings (IPCR), in order to monitor the situation and facilitate information sharing among member states,” a Cypriot official said.
The IPCR mechanism, used during major cross-border crises, provides a platform for the exchange of information between member states, the European Commission and relevant agencies. Officials say the system will improve situational awareness should further cases emerge.
Information-sharing and coordination are already underway within EU health and civil protection networks. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has been closely involved and cooperating with other member states since it was notified on 2 May; it has been central to the response.
Nevertheless, Cypriot officials said the Presidency considered it prudent to formalise cooperation through the IPCR framework given uncertainties surrounding the outbreak and the virus’s incubation period.
According to the ECDC, as of 14 May, 11 cases had been reported in Europe, including eight confirmed infections, two probable cases and one inconclusive result.
The agency warned that additional infections among former passengers and crew linked to the outbreak could still emerge in the coming weeks because of the virus’s long incubation period.
“This is why ECDC’s precautionary approach since the beginning has been very important,” said ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner.
Despite concerns over the virus’s high fatality rate, estimated at between 30 and 40 per cent in severe cases, 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 in place.