US hantavirus case was false positive; outbreak cases drop from 11 to 10
Ars Technica • • health
Key Points:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) revised the hantavirus case count on the cruise ship MV Hondius from 11 to 10 after a previously reported US case was confirmed as a false positive.
- Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, initially considered a possible case due to inconclusive PCR test results, tested negative on repeat PCR and antibody tests, indicating no current or past hantavirus infection.
- The outbreak has resulted in 10 confirmed cases and three deaths—a Dutch couple and a German woman—with evacuation of the ship's 120-plus passengers now complete.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that additional cases may appear due to the virus's long incubation period but stressed this reflects effective control measures and ongoing monitoring.
- The US is actively monitoring 41 individuals potentially exposed to the virus, including evacuated passengers and contacts of infected individuals, to prevent further spread.