Hantavirus cases steady at 13, no new deaths in month: WHO chief

Case count stabilizes

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Saturday that global hantavirus cases reported to the UN health agency remain steady at 13, with no new fatalities recorded in over a month as the organization continues monitoring the cruise-linked outbreak.

"The number of cases reported to WHO remains 13, including three deaths," Tedros wrote on the social media platform X, noting that no additional deaths have been reported to the UN agency for more than a month. He added that WHO remains in close contact with governments where patients are receiving treatment or where passengers and crew members are under quarantine.

Human transmission risks

Hantaviruses are typically rodent-borne pathogens that do not spread between humans, though the Andes strain linked to the recent outbreak can be transmitted through prolonged close contact in enclosed environments. Most hantavirus strains are associated with specific rodent species and cause severe illness in humans.

Cruise ship cluster

The outbreak drew international attention after a 70-year-old Dutch passenger fell ill on April 6 aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, five days after the vessel departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina. The virus spread among passengers aboard the cruise voyage, prompting health monitoring and containment measures after several infections were identified during and shortly after the trip.

WHO said it continues to coordinate with national authorities involved in response efforts. The agency first flagged the cluster after the Dutch passenger became ill while traveling on the vessel.