Geneva.- The World Health Organization (WHO) declared today the end of the hantavirus outbreak that emerged on a cruise ship, after the last contact of a person exposed to the virus finished their quarantine period testing negative in the final test performed, allowing them to return home.
“We are pleased to announce that the total number of cases related to this outbreak remains at thirteen, including three deaths. More than 650 contacts were identified, which were followed up by health authorities in 33 countries and territories,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
No cases of hantavirus have been reported since May 25th.
Tedros maintained in a press conference that although the outbreak has ended, the organization will remain in contact and collaborate with governments and other entities to “deepen our knowledge of this outbreak and the virus in general.”
The WHO indicated that a study is being carried out involving 21 countries to understand how the disease develops, which will help in the development of diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines for future outbreaks.
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Tedros thanked the countries that supported the outbreak response in compliance with the International Health Regulations: Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom.
Special thanks to Spain
He also expressed special thanks to Spain, “which showed incredible solidarity by supporting the safe disembarkation and repatriation of the passengers and crew in Tenerife”.
Despite this good news, Tedros said that the hantavirus remains a public health threat in South America and other areas where it is endemic, so he reflected on the need to keep it under surveillance and to be prepared to deal with further spread.
“Therefore, what we are announcing today refers to this specific outbreak, but the work on fighting viruses must continue in the long term,” he emphasized.
