The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship does not signal the beginning of another global pandemic. During a media briefing on Wednesday, WHO officials emphasized that Hantavirus spreads differently from COVID-19 and currently poses a low public health risk.
WHO Official Clarifies Nature of Outbreak
Infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove reassured the public that the situation is not a repeat of the coronavirus pandemic. “I want to be unequivocal here. This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship,” she said. Van Kerkhove explained that the Andes Hantavirus primarily spreads through close, intimate contact, unlike COVID-19 or influenza, which transmit more easily through the air.
Confirmed Cases and Transmission Details
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus reported that eight cases have been identified so far, including three deaths. Among these, five are laboratory-confirmed, while three remain suspected. He noted that previous outbreaks indicate human-to-human transmission only occurs after prolonged contact, which appears to have happened in this instance. “Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. People are usually infected through contact with infected rodents, their urine droppings or saliva. The species of Hantavirus involved in this case is the Andes virus, which is found in Latin America and is the only species known to be capable of limited transmission between humans. In previous outbreaks of Andes virus, transmission between people has been associated with close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members, intimate partners, and people providing medical care. That appears to be the case in the current situation,” he said.
Timeline of the Outbreak
Tedros explained that when the first patient developed symptoms on April 9, Hantavirus was not initially suspected, and no samples were collected. The patient’s wife later disembarked when the ship docked at St Helena before dying in Johannesburg, South Africa, where tests later confirmed Hantavirus infection. The WHO Director-General warned that more cases could emerge because the disease has an incubation period of up to six weeks, but the organization still assesses the wider public health risk as low.
International Response
Tedros disclosed that he contacted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday to request that Spain accept the ship after the outbreak. The vessel is now heading to Spain’s Canary Islands, with passengers ordered to remain in their cabins and anyone showing symptoms instructed to isolate immediately.
Israel Confirms First Hantavirus Case
Meanwhile, Israeli health authorities have confirmed the country’s first diagnosed case of Hantavirus. A patient who recently traveled to Eastern Europe tested positive for the rodent-borne disease. The patient initially showed symptoms that prompted antibody screening, which indicated exposure to Hantavirus. A follow-up PCR test confirmed the active infection. The patient is reported to be in stable condition and under medical observation, without requiring intensive care or strict isolation measures. Health officials clarified that this case involves a European strain of Hantavirus, typically transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. They emphasized that the infection is unrelated to the ongoing Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, which involves the rarer Andes strain associated with limited human-to-human transmission.
