GENEVA – Maria Van Kerkhove, Acting Director of the WHO Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, said during a press conference in Geneva that “most hantaviruses do not spread between humans,” adding that the overall public health risk remains low globally, including in the Canary Islands, where the cruise ship MV Hondius is currently headed.

The WHO explained that the current outbreak is linked to the Andes virus, the only hantavirus strain known to have a limited capacity for human-to-human transmission, mainly through close and prolonged contact, particularly in enclosed indoor settings.

The organisation noted that the risk is largely confined to passengers on board the vessel, with precautionary measures already in place, including isolation of infected individuals, disinfection of cabins, deployment of a health expert on board, and the provision of diagnostic tools to support screening efforts.

According to the WHO, eight cases have been reported so far among passengers on the ship, including three deaths, while the overall risk assessment continues to be classified as low.