Florence, 2 July (LaPresse) – “Today, the last close contact of a person exposed to the hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius has completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home. No further cases have been reported since 25 May. We are therefore pleased to announce that the WHO considers the Hantavirus outbreak to be over.” This was stated by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The total number of cases from the outbreak remains at 13, including three deaths. More than 650 contacts have been identified and monitored by health authorities in 33 countries. “Although the outbreak is over, the WHO will continue to work with governments and partners to deepen our understanding of this outbreak and of hantavirus in general. We are also coordinating a study involving 21 countries to understand how the disease develops, which will support the development of diagnostic tools, treatments and vaccines for future outbreaks,” concluded Dr Tedros, after thanking Argentina, Cape Verde, Chile, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom “and above all Spain – muchas gracias – which has shown incredible solidarity in supporting the safe disembarkation and repatriation of passengers and crew in Tenerife”.
Hantavirus, WHO: ‘The cruise ship-related outbreak is over’
Florence, 2 July (LaPresse) – “Today, the last close contact of a person exposed to the hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius has completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home. No further cases have been reported since 25 May. We are therefore pleased to announce that the WHO considers the Hantavirus outbreak to be over.” This was stated by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The total number of cases from the outbreak remains at 13, including three deaths. More than 650 contacts have been identified and monitored by health authorities in 33 countries. “Although the outbreak is over, the WHO will continue to work with governments and partners to deepen our understanding of this outbreak and of hantavirus in general. We are also coordinating a study involving 21 countries to understand how the disease develops, which will support the development of diagnostic tools, treatments and vaccines for future outbreaks,” concluded Dr Tedros, after thanking Argentina, Cape Verde, Chile, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom “and above all Spain – muchas gracias – which has shown incredible solidarity in supporting the safe disembarkation and repatriation of passengers and crew in Tenerife”.
