Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed five hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, while three more cases remain suspected, taking the total number of reported infections to eight, including three deaths.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, commonly found in Latin America, and warned that more cases could still emerge due to the virus’s incubation period of up to six weeks.
The outbreak has triggered an international health alert after several passengers aboard the Dutch expedition vessel fell ill during the voyage. Authorities across multiple countries are now tracing passengers and monitoring possible contacts.
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday that “WHO assesses the public health risk as low” regarding the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
“So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths. Five of the eight cases… pic.twitter.com/tPT27Lm0rI
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WHO has alerted 12 countries linked to passengers who disembarked during the cruise and has dispatched around 2,500 hantavirus testing kits from Argentina to strengthen surveillance and diagnosis efforts.
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying 149 passengers and crew members from 23 nationalities during its South Atlantic voyage.
Health officials said no new symptomatic cases have currently been reported onboard, but monitoring continues as the vessel heads toward the Canary Islands.
