WHO head warns countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases

Public health officials are warning that more hantavirus cases may still emerge from the outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, as repatriations, quarantines and contact tracing continue across several countries.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus’s incubation period means additional infections could yet be reported. WHO has said the wider public health risk remains low, but it has also cautioned that the outbreak should be watched closely because the Andes strain can rarely spread person to person through close and prolonged contact.

The first WHO briefing on the cluster came on May 7, followed by an outbreak update on May 8 that put the total at eight cases, including three deaths. By May 12, AP reported that Spain had confirmed another case in a passenger evacuated from the ship, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 11.

Passengers and crew have been evacuated, repatriated or quarantined in multiple countries while health authorities continue tracing contacts and monitoring exposed travelers.

What officials know so far

WHO has linked the cluster to travel on the MV Hondius and said the outbreak involves the Andes virus strain. The organization has not described the situation as a major global threat, but it has warned that countries should be prepared for more cases as the investigation continues.

The case count has moved quickly over several days, and different reports have cited slightly different totals as new confirmations came in. The latest confirmed figure in the available reporting is 11 cases, including three deaths.

What happens next

The key question is whether more exposed passengers or crew test positive during quarantine and follow-up monitoring. Health authorities are also still working through the final country-by-country distribution of cases and the full scope of contacts traced from the ship.

For now, the public health message from WHO is cautious but steady: the outbreak remains limited, but it is not over yet.