90-Second Read: WHO says 12th person infected with Hantavirus detected in the Netherlands

The World Health Organization has urged countries to continue monitoring passengers for Hantavirus after a case was detected among a Dutch crew member of the ship at the centre of the outbreak. The Andes virus has been detected in one person who was in quarantine in the Netherlands. While rodents spread Hantavirus, the Andes strain is the only known strain capable of spreading from human to human.

WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged all countries to monitor passengers who were on the cruise ship. Tedros said a Dutch crew member had tested positive and was now in isolation, taking the total positive cases to 12. Tedros reiterated that no deaths have been reported since May 2, when the outbreak was first reported to the WHO.

According to the RIVM, everyone who had evacuated from the Dutch-flagged ship to the Netherlands is tested every week, and two separate laboratories confirmed the positive test. While the WHO is investigating how the virus got on board the ship, it is believed that the first person to contract it could have been exposed to rodents during a bird-watching expedition. Dutch authorities also confirmed that the infected crew member had been taken to hospital.