There is “no sign” of a larger hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of the virus-stricken MV Hondius, the director of the World Health Organization said.
During a news conference on Monday, Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said the assessment of hantavirus “continues to be that the risk to health globally continues to be low.”
“There 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,” Ghebreyesus said.
“But of course, the situation could change. Given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we may see more cases in the coming weeks,” he added.
The director of the WHO said that each country where the passengers have been repatriated is responsible for monitoring their health.
“WHO’s recommendation is that they should be monitored actively at a specified quarantine facility or at home for 42 days from the last exposure which is the 10th of May which takes us to the 21st of June,” he said.
As of Tuesday, the WHO said it has identified 11 cases, with nine of them confirmed, including three people from the cruise ship who died.
The organization said it expects “more cases given the dynamics of spread on a ship and the virus’ incubation period.”
“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak. Passengers and crew are being followed up in their countries, where WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine at home or in a facility starting from day of departure from the ship,” the WHO added.
Spain reports new hantavirus case
A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, Spain’s health ministry announced Tuesday.
“The patient who yesterday tested provisionally positive has been confirmed as positive for hantavirus. As for the rest of the people who remained under study at Gómez Ulla Hospital, the definitive tests have confirmed a total of 13 negative results,” Spain’s Health Ministry confirmed in a post on X.
The Health Ministry said the patient had a “low-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms, although he/she is currently stable and without any evident clinical deterioration.”
The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday — who all tested negative for the virus — are also staying.
Get weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
The United States announced Monday that one passenger who was evacuated from the ship was experiencing mild symptoms.
In an update on Tuesday, Spain’s Health Ministry said that the U.S. citizen’s test was inconclusive “and subsequently negative.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that 18 American passengers from the MV Hondius and a dual U.S.-British citizen travelled on the returning Department of State airlift on Monday.
Fifteen passengers are at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while two others are being monitored in Atlanta.
One passenger, who previously tested positive for hantavirus, was transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring. As of Monday morning, the individual was “doing well and not showing any symptoms at this time,” reported Angela Hewlett, the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit’s medical director.
“Two passengers from the airlift, including one who traveled with mild symptoms in the plane’s biocontainment unit, are now at Emory University’s RESPTC in Atlanta. All individuals in both facilities will receive clinical assessment and appropriate care and support based on their condition and needs,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.
The 15 passengers in the National Quarantine Unit are currently “in good shape and in good spirits,” Dr. Michael Wadman said. “They are definitely tired and needed some rest.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the risk to the public’s health in the United States is “considered extremely low at this time.”
“As a precaution, CDC is working to increase awareness of the outbreak among travelers, public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare professionals nationwide,” the CDC added.
Meanwhile, British Columbia’s top doctor said that the four Canadians who were aboard MV Hondius arrived safely at Victoria International Airport on Sunday and the arrival “went smoothly.”
“On arrival, each individual was screened and thoroughly assessed by the Island Health public health teams and we were there in a very controlled conditions, wearing appropriate PPE,” Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters on Monday, noting that all four “continue to be well and have no symptoms.”
She said that they are in a “very critical phase of the incubation period” and the four Canadians were transferred directly from the airport to the secure, prearranged lodgings where they have begun a minimum 21-day period of isolation under direction and with ongoing contact of the public health team.
“After talking to each of the individuals, I can confirm that two are a couple in their 70s who live in Yukon Territory. One is a person in their 70s who resides here in the Island health region and one is a person in their 50s from British Columbia who is currently living abroad,” she added.
