WHO Declares End to Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondiu

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondiu over, as all individuals who were quarantined completed their isolation and tested negative for the virus. This announcement was made by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.

The outbreak, which raised international concern, resulted in three deaths and 12 confirmed cases, with an additional probable case reported. A total of 650 contacts of infected individuals were identified and monitored across 33 countries and territories.

The MV Hondiu, a Dutch-flagged vessel, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, and included an expedition to remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. Following the outbreak, passengers were evacuated, and the ship arrived in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on May 18, where it underwent extensive cleaning and disinfection.

The vessel was cleared to resume operations on May 30. Despite the outbreak being declared over, health officials continue to study the virus to improve global preparedness for future outbreaks.