The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said there is currently “no sign” of a wider hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of passengers from the disease-hit cruise ship MV Hondius.
Tedros, however, cautioned that the situation remains under close monitoring and warned that more infections could still emerge.
“The situation could change,” he said, noting that additional confirmed cases remain possible.
The vessel departed Tenerife on Monday and is now sailing toward Rotterdam after the final passengers were evacuated.
Two evacuation flights carrying the remaining 28 passengers reportedly landed in Eindhoven on Tuesday.
The outbreak aboard the ship has so far claimed three lives, while health authorities confirmed that a French national and a Spanish passenger who had previously returned home tested positive for the virus.
According to the WHO, nine hantavirus cases have been confirmed, while two others remain under investigation.
The French patient is currently receiving intensive treatment at a hospital in Paris, where doctors described her condition as “the most severe form” of the disease. She is reportedly being supported with an artificial lung.
Meanwhile, the Spanish patient is said to be experiencing only mild respiratory symptoms.
In the Netherlands, twelve healthcare workers at a hospital in Nijmegen have also been placed in quarantine following possible exposure to the virus.
Hospital authorities said the precautionary measure became necessary after the workers handled blood and urine samples from one of the evacuated passengers without following strict safety protocols.
