All 26 people under observation in France for hantavirus tested negative, says minister

PARIS- All 26 people under observation in France for possible hantavirus infection have tested negative, the French health minister said on Thursday.

"These 26 people will continue to be medically monitored and tested three times a week. From now on, health authorities will no longer communicate these results, except in the event of a positive test," Stephanie Ritz said in a tweet.

Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents but can be transmitted between people in rare cases. That requires close contact.

-Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Alex Richardson/Reuters