The first suspected hantavirus patient in Romania. What is happening in the hospital where he was admitted until recently
The man suspected of hantavirus and now at the Arad County Hospital had been admitted to the Ştei Psychiatric Hospital since 2023. On May 6, he was discharged from the hospital in Bihor, and on May 9 he arrived at the hospital in Arad with flu symptoms. The manager of the hospital in Ștei explained to News.ro what the situation is now in the medical unit, where there are over 300 patients, and when the analyzes will be ready that will determine whether or not the patient has hantavirus.
The manager of the Ştei Psychiatry and Safety Measures hospital, Horia Miara, said that upon discharge, on May 6, the man had no symptoms and was transported by ambulance to his home town, Sântana, in Arad county, accompanied by medical personnel. On May 9, the man arrived at the Arad County Emergency Hospital with flu symptoms, and after initial tests, the suspicion of hantavirus was confirmed. At this moment, he is admitted to the infectious diseases department of the hospital in Arad.
The final results of the analyzes should be ready at the Cantacuzino Institute on Monday, May 18.
What measures were taken at the hospital in Ștei, where more than 300 patients are hospitalized
“At the Ştei Hospital, we isolated contacts, in isolation rooms, we did the epidemiological triage, we prohibited the access of family members and strangers to the hospital precisely to avoid contact with outsiders until the result is received. Apart from the service staff, no one enters the hospital anymore, and for the service staff the epidemiological triage is done”, the manager of the Ștei Psychiatric Hospital told News.ro.
The hospital is located in a wooded area, and disinsection and deratization are done here monthly, claims the manager of the unit: “Last year was a period with mosquitoes and we decided to increase the frequency to one disinsection and deratization check per month.”
“What I can tell you is that none of our patients, and we have more than 300 patients, have no symptoms (…) The staff also have no problems, we have no patients with viruses, I hope the result will confirm that the patient does not have hantavirus”, said the manager of the hospital in Ştei.
There are international concerns about hantavirus after three passengers died on a cruise between Argentina and Cape Verde. Seven other passengers tested positive for the virus, including a patient from France, currently in critical condition.
The disease is generally transmitted by infected rodents, most often through their urine, droppings and saliva.
Laboratory tests in South Africa and Switzerland confirmed that the patients on the MV Hondius were the Andzi strain, the only strain of hantavirus known to be transmitted between humans.
