NAIROBI, Kenya- The World Health Organization has warned that more hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius could still emerge as authorities race to contain the deadly outbreak that has already killed three passengers.
However, the agency insists the situation remains under control and is not comparable to Covid-19.
Why WHO expects more hantavirus infections
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said five confirmed and three suspected cases have so far been linked to the cruise ship.
Health officials say the Andes strain detected aboard the vessel has an incubation period of up to six weeks, meaning additional infections could still appear.
A new positive case was later confirmed in the Netherlands, reinforcing concerns over wider exposure among passengers.
Despite this, WHO officials stressed the outbreak is expected to remain limited if countries maintain strict public health measures.
“This is not the start of a pandemic,” WHO officials said while urging calm.
How the deadly outbreak spread across the cruise ship
Authorities believe one passenger may have contracted the virus before boarding the ship in Ushuaia and later infected others during the Atlantic voyage.
The outbreak has since spread across multiple countries, with suspected or confirmed cases being monitored in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and the Netherlands.
A Dutch couple linked to the outbreak both died after falling ill, while a German passenger also died earlier this month.
Health officials are additionally tracing passengers who boarded a commercial flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg after one symptomatic passenger travelled onboard.
Why health experts say the risk remains low
Hantavirus is a rare disease commonly spread through contact with infected rodents, particularly rats and mice.
The Andes strain is one of the few known variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission.
Experts say the virus is far less contagious than Covid-19 and currently poses a low public risk.
There is no vaccine or specific cure, with treatment mainly focused on managing symptoms and supporting patients through respiratory complications.
The cruise ship is now heading toward Tenerife, while authorities continue investigations and passenger tracing efforts across several countries.
