Hantavirus: Deadly Outbreak on Cruise Ship Hondius Expected to Officially End July 2, WHO Says

The World Health Organization announced that the deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship Hondius is expected to be officially declared over on July 2, marking the end of an episode that caused significant international concern.

While the immediate crisis appears to be concluding for those still in quarantine, the scientific work is just beginning. The outbreak, linked to the Dutch vessel MV Hondius, resulted in 12 confirmed cases and one probable case, with three fatalities. This situation prompted a global health alert. The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, making stops in the South Atlantic before reaching Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands, where remaining passengers were evacuated.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, stated that over 650 contacts have been identified and monitored across 33 countries and territories. All but 54 contacts are expected to complete their quarantine periods by July 2. If no new cases emerge by then, the WHO will consider the epidemic concluded. The agency is collaborating with partners to analyze virus samples collected from the ship and is coordinating a study among exposed individuals to better understand the disease's progression.

The WHO aims to share a virus sample with its BioHub in Switzerland, which will be crucial for developing diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines for potential future outbreaks. Hantavirus, transmitted by rodents, is rare and currently has no specific vaccine or treatment. Notably, the Andes strain responsible for the Hondius outbreak is the only known strain capable of human-to-human transmission.