WHO Chief Warns ‘Work Not Over’ After Hantavirus Cruise Ship Evacuation

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said global efforts to contain the hantavirus situation are still ongoing, following the evacuation of passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius after a deadly outbreak onboard.

Speaking on Tuesday, May 12, at a joint press conference in Madrid alongside Pedro Sánchez, the WHO chief stated that while the immediate response had progressed, the threat had not fully passed.

“Our work is not over,” Tedros said, adding that there was currently no evidence of a wider outbreak. However, he cautioned that the long incubation period of the virus means more cases could still emerge in the coming weeks.

The MV Hondius has drawn international concern after three passengers died from the rare disease. Health experts, however, stressed that the current global public health risk remains low and said the situation should not be compared to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 120 passengers and crew members were airlifted from Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday and Monday. Many countries have adopted precautionary measures for returning evacuees, with most following WHO guidance that recommends a 42-day quarantine and close monitoring of high-risk contacts.

In contrast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States indicated that American evacuees may not automatically face quarantine. Acting CDC director Jay Bhattacharya said quarantine decisions would depend on individual circumstances.

The handling of the ship also created diplomatic tension, as nations debated who would host the vessel and care for passengers. Cape Verde declined to receive the ship while it remained offshore near Praia, leading to emergency evacuations of critically ill passengers to Europe.

Spain later permitted the vessel to anchor near the Canary Islands for evacuation operations, though regional leaders reportedly opposed the move.

Defending Spain’s response, Sánchez said the world needs cooperation rather than fear, adding that nations must act with solidarity during such crises.

Source: AFP

Photo Credit: Reuters