WHO said eight cases have now been reported in the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak, including five confirmed infections and three deaths. Oceanwide Expeditions said three medically urgent people were evacuated as the ship headed to the Canary Islands.
Three medically urgent people have been evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius as the World Health Organization confirmed a fresh update on the outbreak count.
WHO said on Thursday that eight cases have now been reported in the cluster, including five confirmed hantavirus infections and three deaths. The agency said the virus involved is Andes virus and said the public health risk remains low.
Oceanwide Expeditions said three individuals were disembarked on May 6 and sent for specialized care and screening. The company said one of them was asymptomatic but closely associated with a deceased case, while two remained seriously ill.
The operator also said the first medical aircraft had landed in the Netherlands and that the vessel had departed Cape Verde, heading for the Canary Islands and Tenerife. UK health authorities said they were coordinating the response for British nationals on board.
The WHO update marks an increase from its May 4 outbreak notice, which had described seven cases. WHO said more cases may still be reported as follow-up testing and tracing continue.
The outbreak has drawn international attention because it involves passengers and crew from multiple countries and appears to have unfolded over the course of the ship's voyage. WHO and other authorities are still working to establish the full scale of the cluster and the clinical outcomes for those evacuated.
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