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A hantavirus outbreak aboard cruise ship MV Hondius caused three deaths and triggered global concern, prompting WHO alerts across multiple countries, though officials say the risk of a pandemic remains low.
Hantavirus Outbreak Sparks Global Concern
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A hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has triggered international concern after three passengers died during the Atlantic voyage. WHO says the risk of a wider outbreak remains low.
How The Outbreak Began
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The first confirmed case was identified on May 2 after a passenger fell ill during the cruise. The ship had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, and travelled through Antarctica and remote South Atlantic islands.
Three Deaths Reported Onboard
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A 70-year-old Dutch passenger died first after suffering fever, headache, and diarrhoea. His wife later died in South Africa, while a German woman also died onboard weeks later during the voyage.
Countries Directly Affected
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Countries directly linked to the outbreak include Argentina, Saint Helena, South Africa, Cape Verde, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom due to infected passengers, cruise operations, hospitalisations, and stopovers.
Countries Alerted By WHO
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WHO informed several countries after passengers disembarked at Saint Helena. These countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.
WHO Says Pandemic Risk Is Low
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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said hantavirus does not spread easily between humans and the outbreak is not considered the beginning of another global pandemic like Covid-19.
Investigations Continue Across Multiple Countries
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Health authorities in Argentina and other countries are still investigating the source of the infection. Officials warned that more cases could appear because the virus incubation period can last up to six weeks.
