Cruise Ship Hantavirus Cluster Rises to 13 Cases, WHO Confirms

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the number of hantavirus infections linked to a cruise ship outbreak has increased to 13 after Spain reported a new case among passengers currently in quarantine.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, three deaths have been recorded so far, but no additional fatalities have occurred since May 2. He added that the overall situation remains stable, with infected passengers receiving medical care while others continue to be monitored in isolation.

All passengers, crew members, and medical staff from the affected vessel have now disembarked after the outbreak was first detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which had been docked in Spain’s Canary Islands region.

Health officials say hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings and can cause severe illness in humans. The WHO estimates tens of thousands of cases occur globally each year, though severity varies depending on the strain.

Authorities continue to monitor those exposed as investigations into the outbreak continue.

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