Overview
- Japan’s health ministry said Monday it provided favipiravir to the UK on Friday, May 15, after a request tied to suspected cases of the rodent‑borne virus on the cruise ship MV Hondius.
- The UK plans to use the pills as post‑exposure prophylaxis for people who had contact with suspected hantavirus patients.
- Officials cited hamster studies suggesting improved survival, but there is no clinical evidence that the drug is safe or effective for hantavirus in humans.
- Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno pointed to an MHLW–UKHSA cooperation pact and thanked the UK for giving a charter seat and health monitoring to a Japanese passenger.
- The doses came from Japan’s pandemic influenza stockpile, which officials said remains sufficient, and the government did not disclose the quantity for diplomatic reasons.