WHO declares cruise-linked hantavirus outbreak over as last uncovered particular person completes quarantine and exams destructive.
Revealed On 2 Jul 2026
The World Well being Group has declared the hantavirus outbreak over after the final recognized contact of an uncovered particular person linked to a cruise ship accomplished quarantine and examined destructive for the virus.
The outbreak, which contaminated 13 folks and killed three, concerned the uncommon Andes hantavirus pressure that usually circulates in Argentina and Chile. The cruise ship Hondius sailed from Argentina on April 1.
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“As we speak, the ultimate contact of an individual uncovered to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius accomplished their quarantine interval, examined destructive and returned dwelling,” mentioned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday. “No additional circumstances have been reported because the twenty fifth of Could. Due to this fact, WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak over,” he added.
On April , the Dutch-flagged cruise ship set off from Ushuaia, Argentina, taking in distant islands within the South Atlantic Ocean, together with Tristan da Cunha, earlier than heading north to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, the place remaining passengers have been flown dwelling.
The polar exploration ship lastly docked in Rotterdam within the Netherlands on Could 18.
After cleansing and disinfection, the ship was cleared to place to sea once more on Could 30.
Tedros mentioned greater than 650 contacts have been recognized and adopted up by well being authorities in 33 nations and territories.
He mentioned the WHO would proceed working to grasp the outbreak and the virus itself.
“We’re additionally coordinating a examine involving 21 nations to grasp how the illness develops, which can assist the event of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for future outbreaks,” Tedros mentioned.
Hantavirus spreads primarily by way of rodents, infecting folks by way of contact with rats, mice or their urine, droppings and saliva. The virus can turn out to be airborne throughout the cleansing of infested areas.
The Andes virus is the one recognized hantavirus that may unfold by way of shut, extended human-to-human contact.
Sufferers usually endure fever, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal signs, similar to nausea and stomach ache between one and eight weeks after publicity.
In extreme circumstances, the sickness can quickly progress to coughing, shortness of breath and fluid accumulation within the lungs. There aren’t any accredited vaccines or focused antiviral therapies for the illness, with care remaining largely supportive.
