WHO: Number of hantavirus cases reported to have risen to 12, with deaths remaining at 3

Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday (22 May) reported the latest developments in the hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship, with the number of cases rising to 12.

In a briefing to journalists, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Netherlands had confirmed one additional case involving a crew member who disembarked in Tenerife, Spain, was repatriated to the Netherlands, and has since been in isolation.

There are currently 12 reported cases and three deaths. No new deaths have been reported since 2 May, when the outbreak was first reported to the WHO, Tedros said.

“We continue to urge the affected countries to monitor all passengers and crew closely for the remainder of the quarantine period,” Tedros said.

More than 600 contacts are being monitored across 30 countries, and a small number of high-risk contacts remain under tracing.

Tedros again expressed thanks to the countries that have cooperated in the response and epidemiological investigation.