France: France's government has announced that its strategic mask reserves are adequate to last at least three months in the event of an epidemic. This declaration comes as authorities aim to reassure the public amid rising concerns over hantavirus, as reported by daily Le Figaro.

According to Anadolu Agency, the office of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that the state's strategic stockpile is ample to protect the nation for a minimum of three months during an epidemic wave. The stockpile reportedly surpasses the target set in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional resources from private and public reserves held by hospitals, companies, and local authorities could further extend the protection capacity by several weeks, as indicated by Matignon. Furthermore, France's domestic production capacity for masks is estimated between 2.6 billion and 3.5 billion per year, which is deemed sufficient to tackle a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19. Matignon assured that this capacity could be increased if necessary.

The government's statement is part of an effort to ease public anxiety following concerns about reported hantavirus cases. Authorities emphasize that no outbreak has been recorded in France. Matignon highlighted that hantavirus is significantly less contagious than COVID-19, with only one case identified in the country so far.

Hantavirus is a rare disease typically transmitted through infected rodents or their droppings, though some strains have the potential to spread between humans. The World Health Organization notes that its fatality rate can reach 40-50%, posing a particular risk to elderly individuals or those with underlying health conditions.