The World Health Organization has said a recent hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius does not signal the start of a pandemic, stressing that the virus spreads differently from Covid-19.
Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove said hantavirus spreads through “close, intimate contact” and is not comparable to influenza or Covid-19.
The WHO confirmed that five out of eight suspected cases linked to the cruise ship, currently sailing in the South Atlantic en route to the Canary Islands, had tested positive for hantavirus.
Three people have died, including a 69-year-old Dutch woman who was confirmed to have contracted the virus. Her husband and a German woman also died, though investigations into their cases are ongoing.
The outbreak has drawn international attention because human-to-human transmission of hantavirus was documented for the first time, according to the WHO. Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents.
The luxury cruise, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia on April 1 and is expected to arrive in the Canary Islands on May 10.
Around 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries were initially on board, with dozens disembarking at Saint Helena on April 24.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global health body currently assesses the public health risk as low.
He added that the first confirmed cases had travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay during a bird-watching trip to areas where rodent species known to carry the virus were present.
The WHO said more cases could emerge because the disease has an incubation period of up to six weeks.
Authorities have advised passengers aboard the vessel to wear masks, while those caring for suspected cases have been urged to use higher-grade protective equipment.
