Barcelona City Council has joined the Catalan government's call for calm following reports of a South African citizen who was in Barcelona and may have been exposed to hantavirus. The individual, who was asymptomatic, has not had close contact with anyone in the city, according to the Catalan government.
Officials confirmed the person is currently in South Africa, in good health and without symptoms. There is no evidence of community transmission or any indication of risk to the population in Barcelona. However, epidemiological surveillance protocols have been activated as a preventive measure.
City Council Forms Monitoring Group
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni urgently convened a municipal monitoring group earlier today, 8 May 2026, after initial reports emerged. The group's purpose is to assess the situation and plan municipal actions for any future developments related to this infectious outbreak.
The group includes several key city officials: Second Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay, responsible for Life Cycles; Third Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle, responsible for Prevention and Security; Health Councillor Marta Villanueva; Municipal Manager Laia Claverol; Social Rights and Health Area Manager Marta Clari; and Dr. Joan Ramon Villalbí, manager of the Barcelona Public Health Agency. Also participating are Pedro Velázquez, Chief Superintendent and Head of the Urban Guard, along with their respective teams.
The City Council is in constant communication with the Catalan government to closely monitor the situation. This coordination extends from the Barcelona Public Health Agency to the Catalan Public Health Secretariat, and through them to technical teams at the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Mayor Collboni has also contacted the presidents of the municipal groups, who will receive regular updates on any significant incidents or new information.
