WHO declares end to hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship that departed from Argentina

The World Health Organization has declared an end to the hantavirus outbreak that caused international alarm after originating on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The ship had departed from the southern tip of Argentina.

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I am very pleased to say that the WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak to be over.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, announced the outbreak's conclusion, stating that the last person under health surveillance had completed quarantine with negative test results. No new cases have been reported since May 25. The outbreak involved 13 cases, including three fatalities, linked to the cruise.

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The last person who had been in contact with someone exposed to hantavirus on board the MV Hondius cruise ship completed their quarantine period, tested negative, and returned home.

Health authorities identified and monitored more than 650 contacts across 33 countries and territories. While this outbreak was small compared to the tens of thousands of annual hantavirus infections, the concern centered on human-to-human transmission. The Andes virus strain is known to be capable of spreading between people.

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No new cases have been reported since May 25.

Diana Rojas Álvarez, the WHO's head of high-impact epidemics, confirmed the outbreak posed no further public health risk. However, she cautioned that the Andes virus and other hantaviruses remain a threat in South America and other endemic regions, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance.

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The Andes virus and other hantaviruses continue to pose a public health threat in South America and other endemic regions.