The World Health Organisation has said the risk from hantavirus to the general public remains very low after a deadly outbreak on a cruise ship. The statement comes as countries coordinate repatriation of passengers linked to the MV Hondius, where multiple infections and deaths have been reported. Officials stressed that the virus does not spread easily between people.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said the disease is dangerous mainly for those directly infected. He added that available data from the ship suggests limited human-to-human transmission. Even passengers sharing cabins did not always become infected, which indicates low contagiousness compared to viruses like COVID-19.
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Health authorities confirmed five cases and three suspected infections linked to the outbreak. Three passengers, including a Dutch couple and a German woman, have died. The ship is expected to arrive in Tenerife, Spain, where passengers will be repatriated under strict health protocols.
A KLM flight attendant who had contact with an infected passenger tested negative for hantavirus, according to the WHO. The confirmation was described as reassuring, showing that exposure does not necessarily lead to infection. Officials said this further supports the assessment of low transmission risk.
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The outbreak has triggered international contact tracing across multiple countries after passengers disembarked at different ports. Authorities in Spain and the United Kingdom have arranged controlled repatriation plans, including charter flights and medical monitoring. Health agencies continue to track potential exposure chains while maintaining that overall public risk remains minimal.