No sign of larger hantavirus outbreak, says UN health agency

The head of the World Health Organization has said there is currently “no sign” of a wider hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been linked to multiple confirmed infections and several deaths.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the remarks during a press briefing in Madrid, while cautioning that the situation remains under close observation due to the virus’s long incubation period.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” he said. “But of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”

Ship linked to multiple infections and deaths

The outbreak is connected to the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius, which has been under health monitoring after passengers developed symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection during a voyage that began in Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1.

So far, seven cases have been confirmed among passengers and crew, including individuals who tested positive after returning to their home countries. Three deaths have also been recorded in connection with the outbreak, including an elderly Dutch passenger, his wife, and a German woman who died onboard the vessel.

Health authorities believe the strain involved may be the Andes variant of hantavirus, which is known to be carried by rodents and can, in rare cases, spread between humans.

Evacuations and ongoing monitoring

The final group of 28 passengers was evacuated from the ship and flown to Eindhoven Airport on Tuesday after earlier repatriation flights brought other passengers home. The vessel is now sailing toward Rotterdam, where it is expected to arrive around May 17.

According to the ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions, 122 passengers and crew have now been repatriated through government-arranged flights.

Only 27 people remain on board, including 25 crew members and two medical staff, while some individuals from countries such as the Philippines, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Russia, and Poland are assisting with the ship’s transfer operations.

Hospital quarantine and precautionary measures

Authorities in the Netherlands have also placed 12 hospital workers in quarantine after possible exposure while treating an evacuated patient. The hospital in Nijmegen said the measure was precautionary after some staff did not fully follow strict safety protocols when handling blood and urine samples.

Health officials have stressed that human-to-human transmission of hantavirus remains rare, although it is possible with certain strains.

Symptoms and public health risk

Hantavirus infections can cause severe illness, with symptoms including fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and in severe cases, breathing difficulties.

Despite the cluster of cases linked to the cruise ship, WHO officials have reiterated that the overall risk of a major outbreak remains very low.

Ongoing contact tracing and international response

Several countries, including France, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, are currently monitoring or treating repatriated passengers who tested positive or showed symptoms after disembarkation.

Contact tracing is ongoing, particularly in France, where health authorities are monitoring more than 20 contacts linked to one confirmed case.