3 evacuated off cruise ship with suspected hantavirus cluster, WHO says
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Key Points:
- Three people suspected of hantavirus infection have been evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and are being transferred to the Netherlands for medical care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- The WHO reported eight suspected hantavirus cases among passengers, with three confirmed through lab testing, and noted three deaths, including a Dutch couple.
- Swiss authorities confirmed a hantavirus case in a passenger from the ship who sought hospital care after being informed of the health event.
- The MV Hondius is expected to sail to Tenerife for further investigation, but the Canary Islands government opposes docking the ship there, citing insufficient information and public safety concerns.
- WHO maintains that the overall public health risk remains low and continues to collaborate with ship operators and national health authorities to monitor and manage the situation.
