WHO confirms seven Hantavirus cases, one dead linked to cruise ship outbreak

On May 11, the World Health Organisation said that seven cases of Andes hantavirus had been confirmed among passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, as health authorities continue to investigate the outbreak.

The WHO updated the total number of reported cases to nine after French authorities confirmed that a passenger evacuated from the vessel had tested positive for the virus, a spokesperson for the agency said in an emailed statement, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Two additional cases remain suspected infections, including the individual believed to have been the first person infected in the outbreak.

The passenger, a Spanish Civil Guard officer involved in evacuating passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius during the hantavirus outbreak, died from a heart attack on the evening of May 10, according to World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, before laboratory testing could be carried out.

In a post on X, Tedros said the officer had taken part in a joint operation by Spanish authorities and the WHO to safely evacuate passengers from the vessel at Puerto de Granadilla in southern Tenerife and transfer them to the airport for repatriation.

"Emergency personnel at the port immediately carried out resuscitation efforts, but were unable to save him," he added.

The WHO said the outbreak has resulted in three deaths so far.

The MV Hondius had been expected to dock at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife after the outbreak emerged on board.

By Aghakazim Guliyev