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WHO Says Cruise-Linked Andes Hantavirus Cluster Largely Under Control

Health agencies judge the wider population risk to be low with targeted contact monitoring ongoing.

Overview

  • Health officials reported on Monday that no new cases have been detected and that the outbreak is now largely under control.
  • The cluster began after a cruise that started in Argentina led to multiple infections with the Andes hantavirus on the Hondius vessel.
  • The official tally stands at 13 confirmed cases including three deaths and about 30 contacts remain under observation.
  • Authorities in South Africa, Spain, and the Netherlands completed quarantine or follow-up for many contacts without finding further infections.
  • The Andes hantavirus is usually spread by rodents but can rarely pass between people, so public-health teams are keeping targeted monitoring and repatriation measures in place.