World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that efforts to contain the latest hantavirus outbreak are “not over” yet.
Tedros’ comments came shortly after the announcement that everyone aboard the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius had been evacuated from Spain’s Canary Islands.
In a joint press conference with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Tedros said that “There is no indication that we are seeing the beginning of a major outbreak… but of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it is possible that we could see more cases in the coming weeks.”
What is the status of the Hantavirus outbreak?
This strain of hantavirus can possibly be found in rodents in South America.
The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius departed Argentina on April 1, 2026. Ten days later, a passenger on the ship died of hantavirus and his wife died several days later in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A third passenger, a German woman, died and it was decided that the Hondius would dock in Tenerife while passengers were tested for the virus and those who were ill could be evacuated.
On Sunday and Monday, the remaining 120 passengers aboard the Hondius were evacuated.
Eleven confirmed cases of hantavirus have been reported so far. The patients are in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Many countries have reaffirmed their commitment to WHO guidelines for quarantine protocols and contact tracing. A Dutch hospital announced that 12 employees who did not follow proper guidelines will have to quarantine for 6 weeks.
WHO has emphasized that hantavirus is not the same as COVID-19.
The incubation period of hantavirus ranges from 4 to 42 days. This can cause fever, muscle pain and stomach problems. However, it is also possible to have an asymptomatic case.
Edited by: Rana Taha