Greek epidemiologist Sotiris Tsiodras-era equivalent, infectious disease specialist Gikas Majorkinis, appeared on Crete TV to address growing questions about hantavirus following recent media coverage. He reassured the public that hantavirus does not spread easily between people the way COVID-19 does, and that it is unlikely to trigger a pandemic. Unlike respiratory viruses, hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, not through casual human-to-human contact. For tourists visiting Crete, the risk is very low, particularly for those staying in standard tourist accommodations. As a precaution, avoid handling wild rodents, do not disturb rodent nests in rural or abandoned areas, and wash hands thoroughly after outdoor activities in forested or agricultural zones. No travel restrictions or health alerts are currently in place for Crete.
