{"id":333646,"date":"2026-05-12T23:21:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=333646"},"modified":"2026-05-12T23:21:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:51:50","slug":"no-sign-of-larger-hantavirus-outbreak-who-says-as-cases-proceed-to-rise-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/12\/no-sign-of-larger-hantavirus-outbreak-who-says-as-cases-proceed-to-rise-national\/","title":{"rendered":"No sign of larger hantavirus outbreak, WHO says as cases proceed to rise – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There’s \u201cno sign\u201d of a bigger hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of the virus-stricken MV Hondius, the director of the World Health Organization said.<\/p>\n

During a news conference on Monday<\/a>, Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said the assessment of hantavirus \u201ccontinues to be that the chance to health globally continues to be low.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been no deaths since 2nd of May when WHO was first informed of the cluster of cases. All suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimizing any risk of further transmission,\u201d Ghebreyesus said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut after all, the situation could change. Given the long incubation period of the virus, it\u2019s possible we may even see more cases in the approaching weeks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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The director of the WHO said that every country where the passengers have been repatriated is liable for monitoring their health.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWHO\u2019s suggestion is that they ought to be monitored actively at a specified quarantine facility or at home for 42 days from the last exposure which is the tenth of May which takes us to the twenty first of June,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As of Tuesday, the WHO said it has identified 11 cases<\/a>, with nine of them confirmed, including three people from the cruise ship who died.<\/p>\n

The organization said it expects \u201cmore cases given the dynamics of spread on a ship and the virus\u2019 incubation period.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the intervening time, there is no such thing as a sign that we’re seeing the beginning of a bigger outbreak. Passengers and crew are being followed up of their countries, where WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine at home or in a facility ranging from day of departure from the ship,\u201d the WHO added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSpain reports latest hantavirus case\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship on the centre of the hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, Spain\u2019s health ministry announced Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe patient who yesterday tested provisionally positive has been confirmed as positive for hantavirus. As for the remainder of the individuals who remained under study at G\u00f3mez Ulla Hospital, the definitive tests have confirmed a complete of 13 negative results,\u201d Spain\u2019s Health Ministry confirmed in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Health Ministry said the patient had a \u201clow-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms, although he\/she is currently stable and with none evident clinical deterioration.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The passenger with the brand new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday \u2014 who all tested negative for the virus \u2014 are also staying.<\/p>\n

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The US announced Monday that one passenger who was evacuated from the ship was experiencing mild symptoms.<\/p>\n

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In an update on Tuesday<\/a>, Spain\u2019s Health Ministry said that the U.S. citizen\u2019s test was inconclusive \u201cand subsequently negative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that 18 American passengers from the MV Hondius<\/a> and a dual U.S.-British citizen travelled on the returning Department of State airlift on Monday.<\/p>\n

Fifteen passengers are on the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while two others are being monitored in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

One passenger, who previously tested positive for hantavirus, was transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring. As of Monday morning, the person was \u201cdoing well and never showing any symptoms right now,\u201d reported Angela Hewlett,<\/a> the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit\u2019s medical director.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo passengers from the airlift, including one who traveled with mild symptoms within the plane\u2019s biocontainment unit, are actually at Emory University\u2019s RESPTC in Atlanta. All individuals in each facilities will receive clinical assessment and appropriate care and support based on their condition and desires,\u201d the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.<\/p>\n

The 15 passengers within the National Quarantine Unit are currently \u201cin fine condition and in good spirits,\u201d Dr. Michael Wadman said<\/a>. \u201cThey’re definitely drained and needed some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the chance to the general public\u2019s health<\/a> in the US is \u201cconsidered extremely low right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs a precaution, CDC is working to extend awareness of the outbreak amongst travelers, public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare professionals nationwide,<\/strong>\u201d the CDC added.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, British Columbia\u2019s top doctor said that the 4 Canadians who were aboard MV Hondius arrived safely at Victoria International Airport on Sunday and the arrival \u201cwent easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn arrival, each individual was screened and thoroughly assessed by the Island Health public health teams and we were there in a really controlled conditions, wearing appropriate PPE,\u201d Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters on Monday, noting that each one 4 \u201cproceed to be well and don’t have any symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that they’re in a \u201cvery critical phase of the incubation period\u201d and the 4 Canadians were transferred directly from the airport to the secure, prearranged lodgings where they’ve begun a minimum 21-day period of isolation under direction and with ongoing contact of the general public health team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter talking to every of the individuals, I can confirm that two are a pair of their 70s who live in Yukon Territory. One is an individual of their 70s who resides here within the Island health region and one is an individual of their 50s from British Columbia who’s currently living abroad,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tDutch hospital staff quarantined\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Twelve employees at a Dutch Hospital where a passenger from the MV Hondius is being treated must quarantine for six weeks after improperly handling bodily fluid, the Radbound University Medical Center said in a press release<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n

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