The World Health Organization says it is maintaining its assessment that the global public health risk from the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship remains “low.”
In a statement released Sunday, the WHO said its latest review of available information found no reason to raise the international risk level despite several confirmed infections and deaths connected to the outbreak.
“The public health risk has been reassessed with the most current information available, and the global risk remains low,” the organization stated.
Health officials noted that additional cases could still emerge among passengers and crew members who were exposed before containment measures were introduced onboard the vessel.
However, the WHO said the likelihood of further transmission is expected to decrease significantly following the disembarkation process and the implementation of health control measures.
The outbreak originated aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship operated by Dutch expedition company Oceanwide Expeditions.
The vessel drew international attention after three passengers died from hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly virus that currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The ship is expected to arrive at the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Monday morning, where the remaining 27 people onboard — including 25 crew members and two medical staff — are scheduled to disembark.
Earlier this month, ambulances transported suspected hantavirus patients from the cruise ship after it arrived near Paris for emergency medical response operations.
Hantavirus infections are typically spread through contact with rodents, particularly exposure to infected urine, droppings, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare for most strains.
Symptoms can range from fever and muscle aches to severe respiratory complications in serious cases.
The WHO said it will continue monitoring the situation closely alongside international and national health authorities as investigations into the outbreak continue.
