Andes hantavirus unlikely to spread to Finland, health authority says

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) states that the Andes hantavirus is very unlikely to reach Finland, with no cases expected in the country.

According to Otto Helve, department head at THL, the virus—recently linked to an outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship—poses minimal risk to Finland. “We do not anticipate any cases here,” Helve told national broadcaster Yle.

THL confirmed Friday that two Finns may have been exposed to the virus during a flight from Johannesburg. Both remain asymptomatic and are being monitored for potential symptoms. Authorities have contacted all potentially exposed individuals.

The Andes strain spreads primarily through specific rodent species not found in Europe, Helve noted. Unlike Finland’s native hantavirus (carried by voles and causing nephropathia epidemica), the Andes variant relies on different rodent hosts.

Helve emphasized that the virus does not spread easily between humans, unlike COVID-19. Transmission requires prolonged, close contact, and the virus does not mutate rapidly. “It certainly does not spread as quickly as coronavirus,” he said.

Of six confirmed cases linked to the cruise ship, three have died, per the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms—initially flu-like—typically appear around two weeks post-exposure. While severe, the disease can be managed with early intensive care.

Finland currently sends hantavirus samples to Sweden for analysis but could develop domestic testing if needed. The WHO assesses the outbreak’s global risk as low.

The MV Hondius is now en route to the Canary Islands, where Spanish authorities will evaluate the situation further.