Hantavirus: WHO alerts 12 countries whose citizens left cruise ship [Full List]

The WHO remains optimistic that the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius will be contained through international cooperation and rigorous public health measures as the ship proceeds toward Tenerife.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Thursday that five cases of the Andes hantavirus have been linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, resulting in three deaths. Following a disembarkation at Saint Helena, the WHO alerted 12 nations: Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

While warning that further cases may emerge due to a six-week incubation period, officials stressed this is not a pandemic threat. “This is not Covid; this is not influenza it spreads very, very differently,” stated Maria Van Kerkhove. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added, “We believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented and solidarity shown across all countries.”

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