By Ayomide Otitoju
World Health Organization has said more cases of hantavirus linked to an outbreak on a cruise ship could still emerge, but expects the situation to remain “limited” if public health measures are effectively implemented.
The warning comes after three passengers died following an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise vessel, with health authorities across multiple countries monitoring the spread of the rare virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that five confirmed cases and three suspected cases had been recorded overall, including the three fatalities, noting that further infections remain possible due to the virus’ incubation period of up to six weeks.
“Given the incubation period of the Andes virus… it’s possible that more cases may be reported,” he said, referring to the rare strain capable of human-to-human transmission.
Shortly after his remarks, the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands confirmed another passenger had tested positive, underscoring concerns about continued spread among those exposed.
Despite this, WHO emergency response officials said the outbreak is not expected to escalate into a wider crisis.
“We believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented,” said WHO emergency director Abdi Rahman Mahamud.
Health authorities stressed that the situation is not comparable to COVID-19, with WHO epidemic preparedness chief Maria Van Kerkhove stating, “This is not the start of an epidemic. This is not the start of a pandemic.”
The hantavirus outbreak is believed to have originated from a passenger who may have been infected before boarding in Argentina, later transmitting the virus to others on the ship as it travelled across the Atlantic.
Cases have since been reported in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and South Africa, where affected passengers are either receiving treatment or isolating.
The MV Hondius operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said all remaining passengers on board are currently asymptomatic as the vessel continues its journey toward Tenerife, Spain.
Health authorities in Argentina have also begun environmental investigations, including rodent testing in Ushuaia, where the cruise originated on April 1.
Officials continue to trace contacts, including airline passengers who may have been exposed during evacuation travel routes linked to infected individuals.
