The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that additional cases of hantavirus may still emerge in the coming weeks following an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, although it maintains that the global public health risk remains low. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the remarks on Tuesday during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina on April 1 for an Atlantic cruise to Cape Verde, has resulted in 11 reported hantavirus cases, including three deaths. Of these, nine cases have been confirmed as infections with the Andes virus, a hantavirus variant capable of human-to-human transmission, while the remaining two are considered probable cases. As of now, seven living patients have confirmed infections and one is classified as probable.
The ship’s outbreak prompted a multinational evacuation operation led by Spain, with more than 120 passengers and crew flown out from the Canary Islands over the weekend. The vessel remained anchored off the Canary Islands during the evacuation, despite opposition from the regional government. After being cleared to leave Tenerife on Monday with a reduced crew, the ship is scheduled to be disinfected upon arrival in the Netherlands on Sunday.
Tedros emphasized that the incubation period for hantavirus can be lengthy, up to 42 days, making ongoing monitoring essential. WHO recommends that all evacuated individuals undergo active health surveillance for 42 days from their last exposure, either in designated quarantine facilities or at home, with symptomatic persons isolated and treated promptly. This monitoring period is set to continue until June 21. While stressing that no signs indicate a broader outbreak at this time, Tedros cautioned that the situation could evolve.
Countries receiving evacuees have implemented varying health protocols, though most have adhered to WHO guidelines. Tedros expressed hope that governments would continue following WHO advice but acknowledged their autonomy in establishing local health measures. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called for enhanced coordination of health protocols within the European Union in response to the outbreak’s cross-border implications.
The incident has also highlighted diplomatic challenges surrounding the cruise ship’s docking and passenger disembarkation. Cape Verde denied the MV Hondius permission to dock, forcing the vessel to remain offshore near its capital Praia while some patients were airlifted to Europe. Spain’s decision to allow the ship to anchor at the Canary Islands sparked debate, with Prime Minister Sanchez defending his government’s actions by urging international solidarity and cooperation rather than fear-driven isolation.
Hantavirus is transmitted primarily through contact with the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents and is endemic in Argentina, the cruise’s point of origin. Currently, no vaccines or specific treatments exist for the virus, underscoring the importance of containment and monitoring efforts. Despite the severity of the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, WHO officials have rejected comparisons to earlier global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing to the localized nature of this event.