WHO completes evacuation from MV Hondus cruise ship after hantavirus outbreak
Photo: Hantavirus (Getty Images)
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the evacuation operation involving passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondus, where a hantavirus outbreak occurred, has been successfully completed, according to Suspilne.
More than 120 cruise ship passengers have already returned to their home countries or are currently under quarantine supervision while traveling home. The evacuation measures were carried out after infection cases were detected on board.
Situation on board and crew status
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the ship’s captain and the 26-member crew remain aboard the MV Hondus. The cruise liner is expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Monday.
At the same time, no passengers with symptoms of the disease are currently on board the vessel.
Confirmed cases and fatalities
According to WHO data, 10 cases of the disease have been recorded, including three fatalities. Eight cases were laboratory-confirmed as Andes virus infections, while two remain probable cases.
No new deaths have been reported since May 2.
Risk assessment
The WHO chief noted that due to the virus’s long incubation period, which can last up to six weeks, additional cases may still be identified among evacuated passengers in the coming weeks. However, he stressed that this does not indicate an expansion of the outbreak but is linked to ongoing monitoring and testing efforts.
WHO assessment of the threat
The World Health Organization emphasized that the risk of global hantavirus spread linked to the MV Hondus incident remains low. The situation is considered under control, and response measures are viewed as effective.
The Andes virus hantavirus strain, previously reported by international organizations, has not been detected in Ukraine, and does not have the conditions necessary to form a natural focus in the country.
