90-Second Read: WHO says Hantavirus cases remain at 13, no new deaths reported

The World Health Organization said Hantavirus cases remain at 13, including three deaths, with no new fatalities reported for more than a month. GENEVA, The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that the number of confirmed Hantavirus cases remains at 13, with no new deaths reported for more than a month. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak has resulted in 13 cases, including three deaths.

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause serious illness in humans. However, the strain involved in the current outbreak, known as the Andes virus, can spread through prolonged close human contact, particularly in enclosed environments. The outbreak has been linked to passengers aboard a cruise voyage, prompting international health monitoring and containment measures after several infections were identified during and shortly after the trip.

Global attention focused on the outbreak after a 70-year-old Dutch passenger became ill on April 6 aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, five days after it departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Tedros said WHO continues to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with national authorities involved in the response. Most strains are not transmitted between people and are linked to specific rodent species.