Daijiworld Media Network - Geneva

Geneva, May 12: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned countries to remain prepared for additional hantavirus infections following an international outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more cases could emerge because several passengers and crew members had close contact before containment measures were introduced.

The outbreak, involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, has so far resulted in multiple confirmed infections and three deaths among passengers connected to the vessel. Health authorities across several countries are currently monitoring exposed individuals and tracing contacts.

According to WHO updates, the virus cluster originated aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which had travelled from Argentina toward Cape Verde before authorities intervened.

The WHO has advised governments to strengthen surveillance, isolate high-risk contacts, and follow quarantine protocols, particularly because the Andes variant can, in rare instances, spread between humans.

Despite the warning, global health authorities have stressed that hantavirus is far less contagious than COVID-19 and that the overall risk of widespread transmission remains low.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said investigations are ongoing and confirmed that several countries are monitoring passengers who may have been exposed during the voyage.

WHO officials said the long incubation period of the virus means additional infections may still surface in the coming weeks, even as containment and repatriation efforts continue across Europe and North America.