WHO statement on ship where hantavirus was detected: Comparison to Covid pandemic

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus held a press conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, regarding the latest situation concerning the detection of hantavirus cases on the Dutch-flagged passenger ship MV Hondius, which was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus announced that 8 cases, three of which have resulted in death, have been detected among the passengers on the ship where the rare hantavirus outbreak is occurring. Ghebreyesus said, "5 of the 8 cases have been confirmed as hantavirus, while the other 3 are suspected cases."

Ghebreyesus stated that in previous hantavirus outbreaks, human-to-human transmission was only observed in cases of "prolonged close contact," and that this is the case here as well. Ghebreyesus said, "The first case was a man who began showing symptoms on April 6 and passed away on the ship on April 11. No samples were taken, and because the symptoms resembled other respiratory diseases, hantavirus was not initially suspected."

According to the WHO official, the wife of the deceased passenger disembarked when the ship docked at Saint Helena and also began showing symptoms. The woman's condition worsened during her flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25, and she passed away the following day. Ghebreyesus stated that samples taken in South Africa confirmed that the case was hantavirus.

"More cases may emerge"

Ghebreyesus announced that the WHO is aware of claims that there are other individuals who may have had contact with the passengers and are showing symptoms, and that they are in contact with the relevant authorities. The WHO Director-General noted that the incubation period of the disease can be up to six weeks, indicating that more cases may emerge in the coming period.

Ghebreyesus added that although the disease is serious, the "risk level for public health is considered low."

Low risk for the people of the Canary Islands

Stating that he asked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday to accept the ship and that Sanchez agreed, Ghebreyesus said the ship is currently heading toward the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain. The WHO Director-General said, "We trust Spain's capacity to manage this risk and we are supporting them in doing so."

Ghebreyesus also stated that they assess the risk posed by the hantavirus to the island's population as low. The WHO official announced that he has requested all passengers currently on the ship to remain in their cabins, and that individuals showing symptoms have been instructed to enter isolation immediately.

He stated that the couple who contracted the virus had visited areas where mice carrying the virus were present.

Ghebreyesus said that investigations into the origin of the outbreak are ongoing, but it has been determined that the couple who were the first two cases seen on the ship had participated in a bird-watching trip in Argentina and visited places where mice carrying this virus were seen. Ghebreyesus also announced that the WHO is working with Argentine authorities to obtain more information regarding the couple's movements.

"This is not Covid or influenza, it spreads in a very different way"

Speaking at the press conference, infectious disease epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove announced that authorities have requested everyone on the MV Hondius ship to wear masks. Van Kerkhove stated that those who have been in contact with or are caring for individuals suspected of being ill must also use protective equipment. Emphasizing that hantavirus is only transmitted through close human contact, Kerkhove stated, "This is not Covid or influenza. It spreads in a very different way."

"This is not the beginning of a Covid pandemic"

When asked at the press conference about the difference between the hantavirus outbreak and the early days of Covid-19, Kerkhove replied that "the situation is not the same as it was six years ago." Kerkhove stated, "I want to be very clear here. This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the beginning of a Covid pandemic. This is an outbreak we are seeing on a ship." Kerkhove said that hantavirus does not spread in the same way as coronavirus and is only transmitted through "close contact."