China’s health authorities have tried to address public concern about the recent hantavirus outbreak by saying there was no cause for concern.
The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that the country had recorded no human infections from the strain of the virus linked to the current outbreak.
It is thought to have its origins in the Andes and the CDC said there were no natural hosts for that particular variant in China.
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“Hantavirus infections generally do not result in human-to-human transmission, and ordinary social interactions or routine contact in public places do not spread the virus,” the CDC said.
The virus is usually carried by rodents and can cause serious and sometimes fatal illnesses in humans, including fevers, bleeding and kidney disease.
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The latest outbreak began on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which left Argentina on April 1 with 149 passengers and crew members on board.
The first case was recorded on April 6 from a patient who died five days later.