{"id":665166,"date":"2026-05-12T20:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/665166\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:38:15","slug":"no-sign-of-larger-hantavirus-outbreak-who-says-as-cases-continue-to-rise-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/665166\/","title":{"rendered":"No sign of larger hantavirus outbreak, WHO says as cases continue to rise – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is \u201cno sign\u201d of a larger hantavirus<\/a> outbreak following the evacuation of the virus-stricken MV Hondius, the director of the World Health Organization said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

During a news conference on Monday<\/a>, Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said the assessment of hantavirus \u201ccontinues to be that the risk to health globally continues to be low.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been no deaths since 2nd of May when WHO was first informed of the cluster of cases. All suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimizing any risk of further transmission,\u201d Ghebreyesus said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut of course, the situation could change. Given the long incubation period of the virus, it\u2019s possible we may see more cases in the coming weeks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:58
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDoctors reiterate hantavirus \u2018very different disease\u2019 from COVID-19\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The director of the WHO said that each country where the passengers have been repatriated is responsible for monitoring their health.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cWHO\u2019s recommendation is that they should be monitored actively at a specified quarantine facility or at home for 42 days from the last exposure which is the 10th of May which takes us to the 21st of June,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As of Tuesday, the WHO said it has identified 11 cases<\/a>, with nine of them confirmed, including three people from the cruise ship<\/a> who died.<\/p>\n

The organization said it expects \u201cmore cases given the dynamics of spread on a ship and the virus\u2019 incubation period.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak. Passengers and crew are being followed up in their countries, where WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine at home or in a facility starting from day of departure from the ship,\u201d the WHO added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tFrench hantavirus patient critically ill\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A French woman infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung, a doctor at the Paris hospital caring for the sickened passenger said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

The French passenger hospitalized in Paris has a severe form of the disease that has caused life-threatening lung and heart problems, said Dr. Xavier Lescure, an infectious disease specialist at Bichat Hospital.<\/p>\n

He said the woman is on a life-support device that pumps blood through an artificial lung, providing it with oxygen and returning it to the body. The hope is that the device relieves enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover. Lescure called it \u201cthe final stage of supportive care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Spain\u2019s health ministry announced Tuesday<\/a> that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe patient who yesterday tested provisionally positive has been confirmed as positive for hantavirus. As for the rest of the people who remained under study at G\u00f3mez Ulla Hospital, the definitive tests have confirmed a total of 13 negative results,\u201d Spain\u2019s Health Ministry confirmed in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Receive<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet weekly health news<\/p>\n

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Health Ministry said the patient had a \u201clow-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms, although he\/she is currently stable and without any evident clinical deterioration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:01
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCanadians isolating after hantavirus exposure on board cruise ship\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish nationals evacuated Sunday \u2014 who all tested negative for the virus \u2014 are also staying.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

The United States announced Monday that one passenger who was evacuated from the ship was experiencing mild symptoms.<\/p>\n

In an update on Tuesday<\/a>, Spain\u2019s Health Ministry said that the U.S. citizen\u2019s test was inconclusive \u201cand subsequently negative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that 18 American passengers from the MV Hondius<\/a> and a dual U.S.-British citizen travelled on the returning Department of State airlift on Monday.<\/p>\n

Fifteen passengers are at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while two others are being monitored in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

One passenger, who previously tested positive for hantavirus, was transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring. As of Monday morning, the individual was \u201cdoing well and not showing any symptoms at this time,\u201d reported Angela Hewlett,<\/a> the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit\u2019s medical director.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo passengers from the airlift, including one who traveled with mild symptoms in the plane\u2019s biocontainment unit, are now at Emory University\u2019s RESPTC in Atlanta. All individuals in both facilities will receive clinical assessment and appropriate care and support based on their condition and needs,\u201d the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.<\/p>\n

The 15 passengers in the National Quarantine Unit are currently \u201cin good shape and in good spirits,\u201d Dr. Michael Wadman said<\/a>. \u201cThey are definitely tired and needed some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the risk to the public\u2019s health<\/a> in the United States is \u201cconsidered extremely low at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a precaution, CDC is working to increase awareness of the outbreak among travelers, public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare professionals nationwide,\u201d the CDC added.<\/p>\n

British Columbia\u2019s top doctor said that the four Canadians<\/a> who were aboard MV Hondius arrived safely at Victoria International Airport on Sunday and the arrival \u201cwent smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn arrival, each individual was screened and thoroughly assessed by the Island Health public health teams and we were there in a very controlled conditions, wearing appropriate PPE,\u201d Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters on Monday, noting that all four \u201ccontinue to be well and have no symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that they are in a \u201cvery critical phase of the incubation period\u201d and the four Canadians were transferred directly from the airport to the secure, prearranged lodgings where they have begun a minimum 21-day period of isolation under direction and with ongoing contact of the public health team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter talking to each of the individuals, I can confirm that two are a couple in their 70s who live in Yukon Territory. One is a person in their 70s who resides here in the Island health region and one is a person in their 50s from British Columbia who is currently living abroad,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tDutch hospital staff quarantined\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore on World
\n\t\t\tMore videos\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Twelve employees at a Dutch Hospital where a passenger from the MV Hondius is being treated have to quarantine for six weeks after improperly handling bodily fluid, the Radbound University Medical Center said in a statement<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time of admission, blood was drawn from the patient. This blood was processed according to the standard procedure. Due to the nature of the virus, this blood should have been processed according to a stricter procedure,\u201d the medical centre said.<\/p>\n

The medical centre said that the \u201cmost up-to-date international regulations had not been applied when disposing of the patient\u2019s urine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t9:42
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHantavirus outbreak: 4 Canadians isolating have \u2018no symptoms\u2019 after leaving cruise ship, doctor says\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Due to the nature of the virus, the Dutch employees will go into \u201cpreventive quarantine\u201d for six weeks as a precaution, the medical centre said.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the fact that the chance of actual infection is very small, these measures have a major impact on all those involved. We regret that this happened in our UMC. We will carefully investigate the course of events to learn from this so that it can be prevented in the future,\u201d said Bertine Lahuis, chair of the executive board of Radboud UMC.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, we will ensure that the colleagues involved receive all the support they need. We have great appreciation for their commitment, and that of their colleagues, to ensure that care for the patient runs smoothly. In the meantime, our UMC stands ready to admit any new patients should this be necessary,\u201d Lahuis added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tEvacuation of the MV Hondius is complete\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A total of 87 passengers and 35 crew were escorted from the ship to shore in Tenerife by personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks in a carefully choreographed effort that ended Monday night.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch company that operates the cruise ship, said in a statement Monday<\/a> that the ship is heading toward Rotterdam, Netherlands, and is expected to arrive in six days with a provisional arrival date of May 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll guests and a limited number of crew members have now been transferred from\u00a0m\/v Hondius to waiting aircraft. The total number of individuals repatriated to their home countries and the Netherlands is 122 (35 crew, 87 guests),\u201d Oceanwide Expeditions added.<\/p>\n

The cruise operator thanked local authorities in the Canary Islands for supporting in facilitating the transfer of the passengers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis process, as well as earlier stages of this operation, would not have been possible without the support of Dutch authorities and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We would also like to extend our thanks to the people of the Canary Islands for their contributions to this joint humanitarian effort, as well as to the Spanish Government for its swift preparations and significant logistical support,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:44
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHantavirus-hit cruise ship\u2019s captain praises crew, guests\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Before the final transfer of guests and crew, the MV Hondius bunkered in Granadilla and took necessary supplies ahead of the transit to Rotterdam on Monday morning.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

The vessel currently has 25 crew members on board, in addition to two medical professionals accompanying the ship to conduct ongoing medical monitoring during the voyage, the company said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage, the exact procedures regarding our arrival in Rotterdam remain under discussion. We can confirm that\u00a0m\/v Hondius will undergo sanitation upon arrival,\u201d Oceanwide Expeditions added.<\/p>\n

All remaining crew on board will comply with the medical screening and quarantine conditions in place by the Dutch authorities once they arrive in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n

All guests\u2019 luggage remains on board the MV Hondius, and the ship operators are in direct contact with the guests regarding the return of their luggage upon arrival in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

\u2014 With files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There is \u201cno sign\u201d of a larger hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of the virus-stricken MV Hondius, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":665167,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,23585,241672,84,519,3275],"class_list":["post-665166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cruise-ship","tag-hantavirus","tag-health","tag-trending","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665166\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/665167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}