Trump: US closely monitoring Hantavirus cases

US President Donald Trump on Friday, May 8, sought to reassure the public about a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, emphasising that the virus is not easily transmissible.

“We seem to have things under very good control. They know the virus very well. It's been around a long time, not easily transferable, unlike COVID, but we'll see,” Trump told reporters while departing the White House.

The president said US authorities have been fully briefed on the situation and are closely monitoring developments.

“We have very good people studying it very closely,” he said. “We hope that's true.”

The outbreak has prompted a response from US health authorities. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the situation as a “Level 3” emergency response — the lowest level of activation.

The cases are linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus and involve passengers connected to a recent cruise. According to World Health Organisation officials, the outbreak has resulted in five confirmed cases, including three deaths.

The vessel at the centre of the outbreak, the MV Hondius, was carrying approximately 150 passengers and crew representing 23 nationalities. The ship departed from Argentina, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and later reported a cluster of respiratory illnesses while sailing off the coast of Cape Verde.

Health authorities in multiple countries are continuing efforts to contain the outbreak and monitor potential spread.

By Tamilla Hasanova