The WHO Director confirmed that no signs of a widespread hantavirus outbreak have been found so far after all passengers were evacuated from the cruise ship where the outbreak occurred, but warned that the situation could still change.
On 12 May 2026, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed that there are currently “no signs” of a widespread hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of the last group of passengers from the cruise ship affected by the disease spread.
However, Dr. Ghebreyesus warned that “the situation may change” and that more confirmed cases could still emerge. “Certainly, the situation can change, and considering the virus’s long incubation period, it is possible we may see additional cases in the coming weeks.”
He also emphasized that “our mission is not yet complete” in controlling the outbreak originating from this cruise ship.
The cruise ship MV Hondius, where the outbreak occurred, departed from Tenerife Island in Spain on Monday and is headed for the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. On Tuesday, two planes carrying the final group of 28 passengers arrived in the nearby city of Eindhoven.
The outbreak has resulted in three deaths so far, while one American and one French citizen who had returned to their countries earlier tested positive. In total, seven confirmed cases have been reported.
Meanwhile, twelve staff members at a hospital in the Netherlands are in quarantine after potential exposure to the virus, as they did not strictly follow protocols while handling blood and urine samples from suspected infected patients.
Normally, hantavirus is carried by rodents but can spread from person to person if it is the “Andes” strain. However, WHO officials have consistently stated that the risk of a major outbreak remains very low.
Symptoms in infected individuals may include fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
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Source:bbc