CARACAS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed three deaths from hantavirus in the northeastern state of Anzoategui, while ruling out evidence of person-to-person transmission in the country.

"We report the regrettable deaths of three patients in Anzoategui with confirmed diagnoses of hantavirus," the ministry said in a statement. It added that there was "no scientific evidence of person-to-person transmission in our country," noting that the virus is transmitted by rodents in rural and agricultural areas.

The ministry also said the cases were unrelated to two recent deaths of healthcare workers in the southwestern state of Barinas, whose causes have yet to be confirmed.

Authorities said the final results of the investigations would be released in due course. ■