Three suspected cases of hantavirus have been evacuated from a ship in coordination with several countries and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Enhanced health monitoring is in place, and the risk to public health is considered low.
The patients were evacuated to the Netherlands for medical treatment, the WHO announced.
The operation was carried out in coordination with the ship’s operator and national authorities
in Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands.
According to the WHO, the patients are receiving care in specialised facilities, while enhanced health monitoring has been implemented on board the ship, including the monitoring of passengers and crew, as well as those who have already disembarked.
The UN agency is continuing its collaboration with the health authorities of the countries concerned to ensure appropriate medical follow-up and, if necessary, further evacuations.
On the social media platform X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus assured
the public that “the overall risk to public health remains low.”
The WHO also commended the efforts of the teams involved in managing this health incident, emphasising that, at this stage, no major public health threat has been identified.
Hantavirus is a rare viral disease transmitted to humans primarily by infected rodents through the inhalation of contaminated particles from their droppings, urine, or saliva, according to the WHO.
The infection typically presents with flu-like symptoms, which can progress to severe respiratory or renal forms.
Human-to-human transmission remains exceptional, limited to certain specific strains.
In the absence of a dedicated antiviral treatment or vaccine, management relies on supportive care, while prevention primarily consists of reducing exposure to rodents.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA