WHO Says No Significant Spike in Hantavirus Outbreak Risk on Cruise Ship MV Hondius
OVIEDO (SPAIN): The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is currently no indication that the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to increase significantly, although additional infections among passengers remain possible.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 11 suspected cases have been linked to the outbreak aboard the Netherlands-registered cruise ship, with nine confirmed infections and two additional probable cases.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Madrid alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Tedros confirmed that all suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and are under medical supervision.
“As far as we know, passengers who have disembarked from the ship have been successfully traced, including one individual in a very remote location who was located through a highly complex operation coordinated by the United Kingdom,” he said.
Tedros explained that the WHO requested Spain’s assistance after the situation exceeded the response capacity of Cabo Verde, the nearest country when the outbreak was first detected in the Atlantic Ocean.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the international evacuation and quarantine operation as a “success”, noting that more than 120 individuals from multiple countries were repatriated through 10 special flights “without incident”.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has reportedly claimed three lives since late April.
The vessel arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday, where passengers were evacuated in a multinational operation coordinated by Spain, the WHO, and the European Union.
WHO has recommended a strict 42-day quarantine period for all passengers and close contacts, running from May 10 to June 21.
In the Netherlands, health authorities reported that 12 healthcare workers failed to follow strict protocols while treating a patient linked to the ship and are now also required to undergo quarantine, according to Radboud University Medical Center.
Meanwhile, Spanish health officials confirmed on Tuesday that a Spanish passenger under quarantine in Madrid has developed a mild fever and respiratory symptoms after testing positive on a preliminary basis for hantavirus. Officials said the patient remains stable with no signs of clinical deterioration.