Public Health advises precautions despite low Hantavirus risk

Public Health says the current risk posed to Gibraltar by the hantavirus outbreak is considered low, although authorities have moved to what they describe as “enhanced surveillance”.

In answer to GBC Questions, the Government said no one meeting the World Health Organisation’s criteria for contact tracing has been identified locally so far.

It adds that no Hantavirus infection risk has been linked to a plane which recently travelled to Gibraltar after airdropping medical supplies to Tristan da Cunha following a suspected outbreak on the island.

Number Six also confirmed the strain associated with human-to-human transmission has never been recorded on the Rock, and say there have been no recent human cases of hantavirus in Gibraltar.

Public Health is reminding people to follow good hygiene and rodent control measures, particularly where there may be rat activity.

The spokesperson told GBC the GHA has limited specialist infection control capacity for this type of infectious disease.