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Health
The WHO chief says a hantavirus outbreak on an Atlantic cruise ship poses low global risk and is not comparable to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The head of the World Health Organization has downplayed comparisons between a hantavirus outbreak aboard an Atlantic cruise ship and the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the current threat to the rest of the world remains low. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told AFP he does not believe the situation mirrors the initial phase of COVID-19, noting that a preliminary assessment points to a limited risk of global spread at this time.
The outbreak was announced in early May on a vessel carrying 149 people, including one Russian national who has not been infected. According to the latest health authority data, seven tourists have been diagnosed with the virus. Three have died, while the remaining patients are receiving medical care — including one individual in intensive care in South Africa.
In a related development, the most dangerous strain of hantavirus — one capable of human-to-human transmission — has been identified in a patient in Switzerland. The Swiss government has stated there is no risk of wider spread, emphasizing that cases remain isolated and under close monitoring.
Hantaviruses are a group of pathogens primarily carried by rodents. They can cause severe lung or kidney disease in humans. Unlike COVID-19, which spreads easily between people, hantavirus infection typically occurs only through direct contact with rodents or their droppings, and does not pass from person to person under normal circumstances.
The WHO and relevant health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, implementing preventive measures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Officials have confirmed that the current situation does not warrant any travel restrictions or exceptional international measures.
