A case of hantavirus was reported aboard a cruise ship operating near Crete, prompting local health authorities to assess the situation. Virology professor Giorgos Sourvinos explained that hantavirus is a rare viral illness typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, not through person-to-person contact. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and respiratory or kidney complications. While the risk to the general public remains low, health officials are urging awareness given the high volume of tourists passing through Crete's ports and coastal areas. Visitors are advised to avoid contact with wild rodents, not to handle or disturb rodent nests, and to maintain basic hygiene standards, particularly in rural or forested areas. Anyone experiencing sudden fever or breathing difficulties after visiting such areas should seek medical attention promptly.
