WHO Says More Hantavirus Cases Possible

The World Health Organization has warned that additional cases linked to the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius may still emerge, even as the global health body continues to assess the overall public health risk as low.

Addressing a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak involved the Andes virus, a rare strain of hantavirus known to spread between humans under close-contact conditions.

“Given the incubation period of the Andes virus, which can be up to six weeks, it is possible that more cases may be reported,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. However, he stressed that “while this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.”

The outbreak occurred on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which had travelled from Argentina towards Cabo Verde across the Atlantic.

According to WHO, eight cases have so far been identified, including three deaths. Five cases have been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections, while three remain suspected.

Dr. Ghebreyesus explained that hantaviruses are typically spread through exposure to infected rodents or their urine, saliva, or droppings.

The virus implicated in the outbreak is the Andes virus, found mainly in Latin America and notable for being the only hantavirus strain known to allow limited person-to-person transmission.