WHO confirms five hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius
The agency assessed the public health risk as low but said further cases remain possible as contact tracing continues.
The World Health Organization has confirmed five hantavirus cases linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. Three additional cases remained suspected, according to the agency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency expected the outbreak to remain limited if appropriate public health measures were carried out quickly and effectively. However, he cautioned that more cases could emerge while authorities trace exposed passengers and their contacts across several countries.
The agency notified 12 countries whose nationals had left the ship during its voyage at Saint Helena: Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkyie, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said about 40 passengers from the affected vessel disembarked at Saint Helena.
WHO said approximately 2,500 hantavirus diagnostic kits were being sent from laboratories in Argentina to five countries. Despite describing the outbreak as serious, the agency assessed the wider public health risk as low.