'This is not the start of a COVID pandemic,' WHO says of suspected hantavirus cluster

The World Health Organization (WHO) clarified on Thursday that a suspected hantavirus cluster aboard a cruise ship does not represent the start of another COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s infectious disease epidemiologist, emphasized that hantavirus spreads through close contact, unlike coronaviruses, and the outbreak is contained to the ship. Eight cases have been reported—five confirmed and three suspected—with three fatalities, including a Dutch couple and a German woman who died after showing pneumonia symptoms. The cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, disembarked 29 passengers on St. Helena on April 24, with travelers subsequently visiting 12 countries. U.S. authorities in Arizona, Georgia, and California are monitoring disembarked passengers and conducting contact tracing, though none have shown illness. Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency is isolating two residents from the ship, pending test results, with one asymptomatic and the other experiencing mild symptoms. A WHO press conference noted that three additional suspected cases are under review but not yet included in the official count. The CDC and other health agencies have been engaged for technical support, though experts say the response has been less aggressive than during early COVID-19 outbreaks. WHO is developing step-by-step guidance for passengers who disembarked, ensuring symptomatic individuals are isolated while assessing exposure risks. The outbreak has raised concerns due to the ship’s international travel history, but Van Kerkhove assured that precautionary measures on board are preventing further spread. The WHO continues to coordinate with national health authorities to mitigate risks, emphasizing that hantavirus transmission remains limited compared to respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2.