Hantavirus outbreak grows to 11 cases

The hantavirus outbreak grew to 11 cases on Tuesday, after a French woman became infected while aboard a cruise ship and is now being treated with an artificial lung in Paris and a Spanish passenger tested positive after departing the ship.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed nine of the 11 cases. A Dutch couple has been confirmed dead after what health officials believe was exposure to the virus while visiting South America. The death of a German national is suspected to be caused by hantavirus.

“We expect more cases given the dynamics of spread on a ship and the virus’ incubation period,” the WHO said in a statement on the social platform X. “At 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.”

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there is no sign that the outbreak will grow, but noted that the situation “could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases........

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