WHO, US Authorities Track Passengers Amid Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak
WHO, US states track passengers amid cruise ship hantavirus outbreak alerts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to hold a media briefing on Thursday evening following growing international concern over a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The outbreak has already claimed three lives, while several passengers remain under medical observation and treatment.
According to WHO officials, eight cases connected to the outbreak have so far been identified, including three laboratory-confirmed infections. The cruise ship had departed from Argentina and was travelling toward the Canary Islands before authorities halted it off the coast of West Africa near Cape Verde after reports of illness among passengers surfaced.
The situation has triggered a widening international response, with health agencies in multiple countries monitoring passengers and tracing potential contacts. Reports indicate that around 40 passengers disembarked earlier during a stop at the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena, prompting efforts by authorities to determine their locations and assess possible exposure risks.
Also Read: About 40 Passengers Leave Ship Amid Hantavirus Outbreak At St Helena Stop
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne disease primarily transmitted through exposure to infected rodents, their urine, droppings, or saliva. Some variants, including the Andes strain found in parts of South America, are also capable of limited human-to-human transmission, raising additional concerns among global health authorities. Symptoms can initially resemble flu-like illness before progressing to severe respiratory complications in serious cases.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation would provide further updates through official channels following the press briefing. Health officials in the United States and other countries are also reportedly reviewing travel histories and alert systems as part of precautionary monitoring measures tied to the outbreak.
The outbreak has drawn significant global attention because cruise ships are considered high-risk environments for infectious disease transmission due to close passenger contact and shared facilities. Public health experts are expected to focus on containment measures, passenger tracing, and the possibility of additional infections during the WHO briefing later on Thursday.
Also Read: WHO Confirms Low Public Risk After Hantavirus Outbreak On Cruise Vessel
