The World Health Organization said the risk of hantavirus spreading to the general public remains low following an outbreak on a cruise ship [1].
This assessment comes as health officials attempt to contain a rare viral infection that has already proven fatal to several passengers. The situation highlights the complexities of managing zoonotic diseases within the confined environments of international travel.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the findings during a press conference on May 15 [1]. The outbreak occurred aboard the cruise ship Honduis, which carried 125 passengers [1] and approximately 30 crew and medical staff [1]. To date, there are 10 confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus linked to the vessel, resulting in three deaths [1].
Passengers began disembarking from the ship in Tenerife, Canary Islands, on May 10 [2]. The process took place over two days [2]. While the ship is scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on May 18 [1], the WHO is focusing its immediate efforts on the origin of the virus.
Officials will launch a field investigation in Ushuaia, southern Argentina, during the week of May 19 [1]. The goal of the mission is to identify the animal reservoir, such as rodents, responsible for the outbreak [1].
Health experts said that the risk of new cases persists due to the nature of the virus. A WHO statement noted that the incubation period for hantavirus can last up to six weeks [3]. This window means more infected individuals could emerge even as the ship reaches its final destination.
Despite this possibility, Tedros said the risk to the general public remains low [1].
“The risk of hantavirus spreading to the general public remains low.”
The WHO's focus on Ushuaia suggests that the primary exposure likely occurred during a stop in southern Argentina, where specific rodent populations often carry hantavirus. By identifying the exact animal reservoir, health officials can determine if the transmission was a result of environmental exposure at a port or a failure in the ship's pest control systems, which will inform safety protocols for future polar and remote-region cruises.
