Swedish government and health agency hold press briefing on hantavirus outbreak

The Swedish government and the Public Health Agency of Sweden (FHM) are holding a press conference on Monday to address the ongoing hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, SVT Nyheter reports. The briefing, scheduled for 08:15 local time, follows international concern after three passengers aboard the MV Hondius died from the virus.

Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed and state epidemiologist Erik Sturegård will provide updates on the situation. The outbreak involves a mutated strain of hantavirus—andesvirus—which affects the lungs and spreads through rodent urine and feces.

The briefing is being broadcast live by Morgonstudion, Sweden’s national morning news program.

The hantavirus cases aboard the MV Hondius have drawn global attention, with health authorities monitoring the spread of the rare and severe pulmonary form of the disease.