The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that additional Hantavirus cases could surface in the coming weeks following the evacuation of passengers from the outbreak-hit cruise ship, MV Hondius.
Tedros gave the warning on Tuesday during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, while maintaining that the global public health risk remains low.
The Ethiopian biologist and public health expert explained that due to the virus’s long incubation period, more infections may still be detected in the coming weeks.
According to the WHO chief and diplomat, 11 Hantavirus-related cases have so far been recorded, including three deaths. He disclosed that nine of the infections were confirmed as Andes virus cases, while two others remain probable infections.
“Our assessment continues to be that the global public health risk remains low,” Tedros said, stressing that there is currently no indication of a wider outbreak.
He added that WHO has recommended active health monitoring for all evacuated passengers for 42 days from their last exposure date, either through home isolation or designated quarantine facilities, with the monitoring expected to continue until June 21.
Tedros said anyone who develops symptoms during the monitoring period should be isolated and treated immediately.
The WHO boss also commended the Spanish government for accepting the vessel and coordinating the evacuation operation, praising Spain for showing solidarity and compassion while fulfilling its obligations under international law.
“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said during a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday.
The MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, became the centre of the outbreak after three passengers — a Dutch couple and a German national — died from the virus. Although hantavirus is usually spread by wild rodents, it can, in rare cases, be transmitted from person to person through close contact.
The WHO has so far confirmed nine cases of the Andes variant of the virus, including a French woman and a US national
Spain had agreed on May 5 to receive the MV Hondius after reports of a Hantavirus outbreak onboard, following appeals from WHO, the European Union and more than 20 countries seeking assistance for passenger evacuation and repatriation.
The vessel arrived near the Spanish island of Tenerife on May 10 and docked at the Port of Granadilla the following day.
During the evacuation exercise, passengers and some crew members disembarked under strict health and safety protocols before departing Spain on specially arranged flights.
Sánchez described the operation as successful, revealing that Spain coordinated 10 special flights to evacuate more than 120 passengers of various nationalities between May 10 and May 11.
He said the operation was guided by scientific rigor, transparency, institutional coordination and international cooperation.
Spanish authorities confirmed that all evacuated passengers had departed Tenerife by May 11, while the vessel later sailed to Rotterdam with 28 crew members still onboard.
The European Commission said it is working closely with Spain, EU member states and other countries under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate health monitoring, passenger transfers and follow-up measures.
– Additional news source: The Guardian (UK)
