A Port of Tallinn official said Monday that the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship in the South Atlantic poses no direct risk to cruise operations in the Baltic Sea or to Estonian ports.
“This case does not concern the Baltic Sea, so there is no threat to cruises here or to people,” Sirle Arro, the port’s communications manager, told ERR radio news.
Arro said cruise operators follow strict safety protocols and must report any virus‑related cases detected on board. If a suspected infection is identified, Estonia’s Health Board determines the next steps, including whether a vessel may dock and what procedures passengers and crew must follow.
She added that while international health warnings could indirectly affect the cruise sector if passengers become anxious, operations in the Baltic are continuing as scheduled and no cancellations have been reported.
“In some cases, people may panic — it depends on how seriously they assess the risk,” she said.