The World Health Organization says the risk to the public remains low, as officials search for more than 30 passengers who left the cruise ship 'MV Hondius' on April 24 without contact tracing. The ship has been hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
The search follows the confirmation of a hantavirus case in a passenger from the first leg of the voyage, now being treated in Zurich. Three passengers have died, including a Dutch couple and a German woman. Three people, including the ship's doctor, were evacuated to Europe for treatment.
The WHO confirmed the outbreak involves the Andes strain, which is the only hantavirus known to spread from person to person, usually through close contact. The virus is typically transmitted via rodent droppings.
The ship is en route to the Canary Islands with over 140 passengers and crew still on board. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has agreed to accept the vessel. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked Spain for showing solidarity.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, stressed this is not COVID-19. “This is a very different virus. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship.”
Health officials in South Africa are tracking 62 people who may have had contact with infected passengers. 42 have been located; none have tested positive.