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The World Health Organization said connected Thursday (May 7, 2026) determination were present 5 confirmed hantavirus cases from the Atlantic cruise vessel outbreak, with 3 much suspected — and warned much cases were possible.
The WHO said it expected the outbreak connected the MV Hondius, presently sailing from Cape Verde to the Spanish land of Tenerife, to beryllium limited, truthful agelong arsenic nationalist wellness measures were decently implemented.
"So far, 8 cases person been reported, including 3 deaths. Five of the 8 cases person been confirmed arsenic hantavirus and the different 3 are suspected," WHO main Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeus said.
"The taxon of hantavirus progressive successful this lawsuit is the Andes virus, which is recovered successful Latin America," helium told journalists successful Geneva.
"Given the incubation play of the Andes virus, which tin beryllium up to six weeks, it's imaginable that much cases whitethorn beryllium reported," helium added.
The Dutch-flagged vessel near Ushuaia successful Argentina connected April 1 connected its cruise northbound done the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde. It acceptable sail northbound towards Tenerife connected Wednesday (May 6).
Mr. Tedros said helium had been successful regular interaction with the ship's captain.
"He told maine morale has improved importantly since the vessel started moving again. I convey him for everything helium has done to support those nether his work of care," helium said.
The WHO's exigency alert and effect manager Abdi Rahman Mahamud added: "We judge this volition beryllium a constricted outbreak if the nationalist wellness measures are implemented and solidarity shown crossed each countries."
The uncommon illness is usually dispersed from infected rodents, typically done urine, droppings and saliva.
The Andes microorganism is recovered successful South America. It is the lone strain of hantavirus with documented human-to-human transmission.
Mr. Tedros said Argentina would nonstop 2,500 diagnostic kits to laboratories successful 5 countries.
After leaving Ushuaia connected its Atlantic voyage, the exploration vas stopped astatine respective distant islands on the way.
The WHO said it had informed 12 countries that its nationals had disembarked the MV Hondius connected Saint Helena.
The vessel called astatine the British territory from April 22 to 24. Its relation said that 30 guests had disembarked astatine that point, including the archetypal fatality, a Dutchman who died connected April 11.
The 12 countries were Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States, Mr. Tedros said.
