EU Sends Experimental Drug After Hantavirus Outbreak

The European Commission has announced that the first doses of the experimental antiviral drug favipiravir are being sent to France, Spain and the Netherlands for the treatment of hantavirus infections. The move follows growing concerns after an outbreak linked to a cruise ship, where 13 infections have so far been confirmed and three people have died.

The European Medicines Agency has identified favipiravir as the most promising candidate currently available for hantavirus treatment, with evidence from clinical trials and so-called compassionate use programs. The drug was supplied by the Japanese company Fujifilm Pharmaceuticals, which donated 1,400 tablets to the countries most affected by the current outbreak.

In addition to France, Spain and the Netherlands, infected patients are also being treated in Switzerland, the United States and South Africa. The European Union has meanwhile launched an emergency procurement process for additional doses in case the number of infections rises in the coming weeks.

Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted by rodents and can cause serious illness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 100,000 cases occur globally each year, although the severity depends on the specific strain of the virus. Experts also note that hantaviruses spread only rarely between humans, reducing the risk of a large-scale epidemic.

(reuters, max)