China’s disease control authorities have stated that no cases of human infection related to the Andes strain of hantavirus have been reported within the country, following international reports of a deadly outbreak linked to a passenger vessel.

The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) said there is currently no evidence of local transmission or confirmed infections involving the Andes virus in China, and stressed that the country has not identified any natural host for this specific strain within its territory.

The statement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) reported an outbreak of hantavirus infections on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina, where at least three deaths have been recorded and several cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

According to WHO updates, a number of passengers tested positive for hantavirus infection, with health officials identifying the strain involved as Andes virus, a rare variant known primarily in parts of South America.

International health agencies note that hantaviruses are typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents, and most strains do not spread between humans. However, Andes virus has previously been associated with limited human-to-human transmission in specific outbreak conditions.

Chinese health authorities emphasized that all available surveillance data indicates no domestic infections and no evidence of ongoing transmission within China.

The China CDC also stated that it is closely monitoring international developments in coordination with global health institutions, while maintaining that the current risk level for the general public in China remains low.

World health officials have indicated that further cases cannot be ruled out due to the incubation period of the virus, but overall public health risk assessments remain cautious and stable at this stage. (ILKHA)