The French National Academy of Medicine recommends a six-week lockdown1
May 12, 2026
The admission to an intensive care unit in Paris of the first French case of infection with the Andes hantavirus is a serious warning for the country. The risk of human-to-human transmission of the current viral strain is unknown, and without overestimating it, the possibility of transmission beyond close contact alone cannot be ignored.
Unlike the situation in 2020 and the early days of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in
France, the virus is now well known, as are the main clinical signs and mortality related to this infection, particularly the rapid deterioration of cardiopulmonary function shortly after the onset of the first symptoms.
In this case, the key priority is to break any new chain of transmission, whether caused by symptomatic infected patients or by asymptomatic individuals. To this end, it is important to maintain strict monitoring and follow-up of the four other French citizens who took part in the cruise, as to be able to treat them as quickly as possible should symptoms develop. The same applies to the 22 French citizens who have been identified as close contacts, for whom neither the degree of proximity nor the duration of their contact with infected cases subsequently identified is known.
It is true that new information is reported every day; nevertheless, it remains
still very fragmented and insufficient to consider the risk of transmission very low.
In light of all the information currently available and the uncertainties involved,
the French National Academy of Medicine recommends a full lockdown for all
the 27 concerned people for six weeks: this period is necessary to cover any incubation period, as previously reported.
It is essential to take every possible precaution in conjunction with close clinical and virological monitoring. This undoubtedly imposes organizational constraints; these are necessary to ensure that no risks are taken, including for healthcare staff, families and those close to these people who have been exposed.
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1 Statement from the French National Academy of Medicine, adopted by the Board of Directors on May 12, 2026
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