Japan supplies favipiravir to UK

The United Kingdom has received supplies of the experimental antiviral drug favipiravir from Japan to combat a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise liner. The United Kingdom — UK Health Security Agency confirmed the delivery of the drug, which is not licensed for hantavirus treatment in the United Kingdom but is being considered for experimental or compassionate use. The outbreak involves the Andes virus strain, known for human-to-human transmission, and has resulted in three deaths from eight confirmed cases. Japan's health minister, Kenichiro Ueno, stated that the drug was supplied at the request of the British government based on a bilateral memorandum. While favipiravir is sold by a unit of Fujifilm, Fujifilm — Fujifilm, in Japan for flu, its efficacy against hantavirus is supported only by lab and animal studies, as noted by virologist Piet Maes. The World Health Organization has indicated that the outbreak does not pose a pandemic threat.