Swedes kept in isolation - How the Nordic countries are responding to the hantavirus

A Swede is now being held in home isolation following the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Meanwhile, governments and authorities in both Sweden and Finland are holding press conferences, introducing new infection control measures and opening the door to stricter measures - despite the fact that the WHO and European infection control authorities continue to describe the risk to the public as low.

On Tuesday confirmed the government that a Swede who was on board the MV Hondius is now in Sweden and is being held in home isolation. The person is reported to have no symptoms of the respiratory virus (the variant of the hantavirus that is transmitted between humans).

- The infectious disease doctor in the affected region is in contact with the person. So far, the person has no symptoms of illness, but is staying at home, said the Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed during the government press briefing.

At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Sweden emphasizes that the virus is not very contagious and that there is no indication of widespread community spread. Acting State Epidemiologist Erik Sturegård said that ”there is nothing at present to indicate any major spread of infection”.

Government opens the door to more measures

Despite this assessment, the government is signaling that it can quickly introduce more tools if the situation changes. During the press briefing, the government highlighted strengthened contact tracing, international coordination within the EU and new surveillance systems following the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

- The government is ready to act quickly if action is needed, said Forssmed.

At the same time, the Government, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reiterated that the situation is not considered to be the start of a new pandemic.

Finland introduces new quarantine options

In Finland, the government has now gone further and classified the disease caused by the respiratory virus as a contagious disease of public health importance. The decision allows for the quarantine of people exposed to the virus and gives the authorities more powers to protect against infection. At the same time, the Finnish government also describes the risk to the public as ”very low at this stage”.

The development now raises questions about how quickly new virus alerts again lead to discussions about isolation, surveillance and increased infection control measures - despite the authorities themselves reiterating that the risk of widespread infection is considered low.