WHO Declares End of Hantavirus Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced the end of the Andes hantavirus outbreak that affected passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on social media that the final passenger has completed their quarantine period and returned home after testing negative for the virus. There have been no new cases of the infection reported since May 25.

"WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak to be over," the organization's head confirmed.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Andes strain of the hantavirus, resulted in 13 confirmed infections and three deaths. Notably, late in May, an additional case had been identified in Spain among passengers who were already under quarantine.

Previously, it was reported that the first shipments of an experimental antiviral drug intended for hantavirus treatment were scheduled to be sent to France, Spain, and the Netherlands.