The World Health Organization has declared the hantavirus outbreak that began aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius officially over, following a period with no new infections and a negative test result for the last known contact of an infected person.

No Further Transmission Expected

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the end of the outbreak after confirming that the last contact of an infected individual tested negative on Thursday. “The WHO now expects no further transmission and no longer considers the outbreak a public health risk,” Tedros said. Two patients remain under medical treatment — one in South Africa and one in France — but no new cases have emerged.

Tedros said the WHO will continue working with governments and international partners to better understand the cause of this specific outbreak and the behavior of hantavirus more broadly.

How the Outbreak Began

The outbreak originated in April aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship carrying approximately 150 passengers on a 46-day voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde, with stops including the Falkland Islands. Multiple passengers fell ill while the vessel was off Tenerife in the Canary Islands, prompting an international public health response.

At least 13 people were confirmed infected, according to WHO figures. Dutch reporting suggests the total may have reached as many as 23 cases when including probable infections. Eight of the confirmed cases have since recovered.

Three Deaths, Including Two Dutch Nationals

The WHO hantavirus outbreak Dutch cruise ship incident claimed three lives. A 69-year-old Dutch man died on April 11 while still aboard the vessel. His wife later died in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. A 65-year-old German woman also died on board on May 2.

Andes Variant — A Rare Human-to-Human Strain

The strain identified in the outbreak was the Andes variant of hantavirus, one of the few forms of the virus capable of spreading directly between humans. The exact mode of transmission in this case remains unknown. Hantavirus can cause severe lung and heart complications in some patients, making early detection and isolation critical to containing outbreaks.

Author: Staff Writer | Edited for WTFwire.com | SOURCE: NL Times