WHO keeps evaluation of hantavirus as 'low risk'

The public health risk has been reassessed with the most current information available, it said.

18 May 2026 11:14am
This photograph shows the logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the entrance of their headquarters ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, on May 17, 2026. - (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)
This photograph shows the logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the entrance of their headquarters ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, on May 17, 2026. - (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

GENEVA - The World Health Organization said Sunday it was maintaining its assessment of the hantavirus outbreak as "low risk" as the cruise ship where the outbreak originated approached the Netherlands.

"The public health risk has been reassessed with the most current information available, and the global risk remains low," said a WHO statement.

"While additional cases may still occur among passengers and crew members exposed before containment measures were implemented, the risk of onward transmission is expected to be reduced following disembarkation and the implementation of control measures," it added.

The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Dutch port of Rotterdam between 10am (0800 GMT) and midday on Monday, according to officials, before disembarking the 27 remaining people on board: 25 crew and two medical staff.

The ship, operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, made headlines after three passengers died from hantavirus -- a rare virus for which no vaccines nor specific treatments exist. - AFP

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