JUST IN: World Health Organization Holds Press Briefing On Hantavirus After Outbreak On Cruise Ship

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:02]Thank you. Thank you, Christian. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Thank you for joining us for this briefing on the ha virus situation.

[00:00:14]Let me begin by outlining what has happened, what we know, what we don't know, and what has done.

[00:00:23]Last Saturday, the United Kingdom notified WHO under the international health regulations of a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness on a Dutch flagged cruise ship, the MV Hondus, which had traveled from Argentina to Capo Verde.

[00:00:43]So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths.

[00:00:49]Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as hent virus and the other three are suspected.

[00:00:58]Hent viruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans.

[00:01:06]People are usually infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine droppings or saliva.

[00:01:15]The species of antivirus involved in this case is the Andis virus which is found in Latin America and is the only speech known to be capable of limited transmission between humans.

[00:01:30]In previous outbreaks of andis virus, transmission between people has been associated with close and prolonged contact particularly among household members, intimate partners and people providing medical care.

[00:01:47]That appears to be the case in the current situation.

[00:01:53]The first case was in a man who developed symptoms on the 6th of April and died on the ship on the 11th of April.

[00:02:05]No samples were taken and because his symptoms were similar to those of other respiratory diseases, Hunter virus was not suspected.

[00:02:18]The man's wife went ashore when the ship docked at the island of St. Helena and was also symptomatic.

[00:02:27]She deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg on the 25th of April and died the next day.

[00:02:37]samples were taken which were tested at South Africa's National Institute of Communicable Diseases and confirmed as habirus.

[00:02:48]The third death was of a woman on the ship who developed symptoms on the 28th of April and died on the 2nd of May.

[00:02:59]Another man presented to the ship's doctor on the 24th of April and he was evacuated on the 25th of April from the island of Ascension to South Africa where he remains in intensive care.

[00:03:17]Doctors from Kabu Verde boarded the ship to provide care for the three other passengers with symptoms.

[00:03:26]WHO coordinated their evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment.

[00:03:31]I would like to thank Prime Minister Ruises Korea Silva of Kabu Verde for his support in facilitating the evacuation of this three patients based on our request.

[00:03:44]Two are in a stable condition in hospital and one is asymptomatic and is now in Germany.

[00:03:52]The eighth case was in a man who disembarked in St. Helena following advice from the ship's operator. He reported himself with symptoms in Zurich, Switzerland, and was confirmed yesterday to be infected with Hanta virus.

[00:04:10]The Geneva University Hospitals then sequenced the virus and confirmed it as Andes.

[00:04:19]None of the remaining passengers or crew on the ship are currently symptomatic.

[00:04:27]WHO is aware of reports of other people with symptoms who may have had contact with one of the passengers. In each case, we're in close contact with the relevant authorities.

[00:04:42]Given the incubation period of the Andes virus which can be up to six weeks, it's possible that more cases may be reported.

[00:04:53]While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.

[00:05:02]It also shows why the international health regulations exist and how they work.

[00:05:08]WHO is working with multiple governments and partners on the response under those regulations.

[00:05:16]Our priorities are to ensure the affected patients receive care, that the remaining passengers on the ship are kept safe and treated with dignity, and to prevent any further spread of the virus.

[00:05:33]On Monday, I asked Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain to accept the ship, which he agreed to agreed to do. And I thank Prime Minister Sanchez for his generosity, solidarity, and meeting his moral duty.

[00:05:50]The ship is now sailing for the Canary Islands, and we're confident in the capacity of Spain to manage this risk, and we're supporting them to do so.

[00:06:02]Once again, we assess the risk to the people of the Canary Islands as low.

[00:06:10]WHO has provided guidance to the ship's operator on the management of health on board the vessel. All passengers have been asked to stay in their cabins. The cabins are being disinfected and anyone who shows symptoms will be isolated immediately.

[00:06:27]A who expert boarded the ship in Cababo Verde and has been joined by two doctors from the Netherlands and an expert from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control who will stay on the ship until it reaches the Canary Islands.

[00:06:45]They're conducting a medical assessment of everyone on board and gathering information to assess their risk of infection.

[00:06:54]WHO is developing step-by-step operational guidance for the safe and respectful disembarkation and onward travel of passengers and crew when they arrive.

[00:07:07]WHO has also informed 12 countries whose nationals disembarked in St. Helena.

[00:07:13]Those 12 countries are Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, St. kits and navies, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

[00:07:31]In addition, who is supporting health authorities in South Africa to follow up people who were on the flight from St. Helena to Johannesburg with the woman who later died.

[00:07:45]Meanwhile, investigations into the cause of the outbreak are continuing.

[00:07:51]Prior to boarding the ship, the first two cases had traveled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay on a bird watching trip, which included visits to sites where the species of rat that's known to carry and virus was present.

[00:08:09]WHO is working with health authorities in Argentina to understand the movements of the couple and I thank the government of Argentina for its cooperation given its experience and expertise with and virus.

[00:08:26]We have also arranged for shipments of 2500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to laboratories in five countries.

[00:08:35]I would also like to thank the governments of Kabo Verde, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom for their close partnership and support.

[00:08:47]I also thank the many partners who have provided expertise including the NICD in South Africa, the institute pastor Dhakar in Sagal and the HU here in Switzerland.

[00:09:02]And I would also like to thank the ship's operator for its cooperation and the passengers and crew who are going through a very difficult and frightening situation.

[00:09:15]I have been in touch with the ship's captain regularly, including this morning. He told me morale has improved significantly since the ship started moving again.

[00:09:27]I thank him for everything he has done to protect those under his duty of care.

[00:09:34]WHO will continue to work with all relevant governments and partners to provide care for those who are affected, protect the safety and dignity of passengers and prevent onward spread of the virus. Christian, back to you.

[00:09:53]Thank you very much, Dr. Tedros. With this we come now to the rounds of questions and answers. Again uh please identify yourself clearly, raise your hand if you want to ask a question. Um then unmute yourself if yourself if called upon and please also take down your hand in case your question has been asked and answered by one of the colleagues. Now this the first question goes to Spanish news agency FA Antonio Broto. Antonio please go ahead.

[00:10:22]>> Uh thank you Christian. Um so uh my first question is in Spain the central government and the regional authorities of the Canary Islands remain divided about the issue of the ships stopover.

[00:10:37]So could you indicate what asurances the Spanish government has provided and what kind of assistance the WH will provide once the ship arrives to Tenerife in this weekend? If I may, I have a second question about this Dutch startress that has been hospitalized today in Amsterdam. Do you have data on this case and how she may be infected?

[00:11:06]Did she travel in the same plane than one of the disease from St. Helen to Johannesburg? Thank you.

[00:11:17]>> Thank you very much, Antonio. With the first question, we go to Dr. Abdi Mahmud, Director Health and Emergencies Alert and Response.

[00:11:28]>> Thanks so much. Uh, echoing again the appreciation of the excellent support from Spain leadership, the technical team and all the actors included. In terms of our understanding, we do hear the concerns coming from the regional government and as DG indicated, we are doing everything possible to understand the risk. As of now, what we know that three the two confirmed case and suspected have been evacuated. The ship is doing everything possible to take the public health measures. So the overall risk that from our side is minimal. But we know that people has a long incubation period. So we have a clear guidance working with our ECDC colleication measures. So we have clear disembarkation plan that will not add additional risk. So we are taking all the measures required to reduce as overall our assessment and we'll get more details from the team on the ship.

[00:12:32]It's a low risk. So we are we are coordinating with our ECDC colleagues with the UK with the Netherlands with all the pass countries who have passengers on the floor to understand a common way. One is to reduce a further spread of the disease which we see is limited and then have a common understanding a common approach based on public health and evidence solidarity and equity. I think they we are in touch with them and we'll resolve the logistic issues and the guidance required to implement this and reduce and take any considerations and feedback from the community the regional government.

[00:13:15]Once again we thank the federal government for their excellent support.

[00:13:20]>> Thank you very much Abdi. For the second part we go to Maria Vancov pardon me on first. Yeah, I just wanted to add to what Abdi said. Um based on the international health regulations uh guidance uh we have made a request to Spain and uh I have actually sent a letter personally to his excellency the prime minister. Um and based on that request because this is part of the IHR regulation uh the prime minister have accepted. Uh but one thing I'd like to address here is on top of the um you know the guidelines in the HR regulation solidarity is the most important here and that's what the prime minister has has uh shown. uh but on top of that uh I think everybody has the moral duty to take care of the people who are on on on the ship. Uh so um I hope uh those who have concerns at the Canary Island will understand and support uh and cooperate with the uh federal uh government. Uh, of course we understand their concerns but as I said in my statement uh based on the risk assessment that we have um the risk to the people in the Canary Island is actually low. Uh so uh the ship is now sailing to Canary Island and I hope all the support uh will be uh provided and thank you.

[00:15:07]>> Thank you very much Dr. Tedros. The second part we go to Maria Vancerkov, acting director, epidemic and pandemic management.

[00:15:15]>> Yes, thank you. So I I believe the second question was related to um a potential suspect case. So as the DG said in his uh remarks, we're getting reports of uh suspect cases or potential suspect cases. These are alerts as we call them. Some of them have had reported links to the ship or passengers on the ship. All of those will be followed up with the relevant authorities in each country. the countries themselves um whether it's through the ministries or through the agencies in the countries are actually assessing each person case by case looking at what type of exposure did they have are they developing any symptoms if anyone is developing symptoms to be isolated uh immediately testing to take place and providing the appropriate support um this is actually how the case in Switzerland was identified following the notification from the ship's operators which we're very grateful for this individual presented to healthcare wasn't feeling well, was immediately isolated, was tested. This is actually public health actions in work uh in the works. Um and I did just want to add on the on the global solidarity side of things, you know, in in all of the efforts that we're doing right now, including the ship sailing to the Canary Islands and to support the Spanish authorities, we've pulled together all of the global experts related to HANA viruses, in particular the Andes virus. And that global solidarity also falls into place on the technical side of things as well.

[00:16:35]Coming together saying what do we know?

[00:16:37]What have we learned from past outbreaks? What's going on in the current situation? And essentially how can we help? Uh and that type of technical solidarity is really helpful.

[00:16:46]Some of the diagnostic kits and the reagents that we are sending are also going to Spain. Um so that will support in some of the on some of the uh further investigations that need to take place.

[00:16:55]So there overall um we're very grateful for all of those who've come together uh from the technical side as well to support this event.

[00:17:05]>> Thank you very much. Next question goes to Nina Larson from AFP. Nina, please go ahead.

[00:17:16]>> Yes.

[00:17:17]>> Hello. Can you hear me?

[00:17:18]>> All well.

[00:17:20]>> Great. Um, so I was going to ask if you um would you consider uh this outbreak to be an epidemic and also um should uh what would you say about people wearing masks? Should we be uh should people be wearing masks? Is it considered to be airborne and also how long should contacts remain in isolation uh to avoid further spread? Thank you.

[00:17:47]>> Thank you very much Nina and we go back to Dr. Vancouver.

[00:17:50]>> Yeah. So, thanks Nina. So, what we have is, you know, obviously the situation that's happening on the ship itself and the followup of the contacts uh of the passengers who disembarked in St. Helena. So, so far as you've heard, we have eight uh cases so far. Five of whom have been confirmed, three who have sadly died. We have no further symptomatic patients who are on board or passengers or crew on board I should say, which is a good sign. But, of course, there is a long incubation period of the Andes virus. We know on board um they have taken some precautions um to try to minimize the risk. What they have advised on board um is disinfection of the rooms. They have confined people to their cabins and providing food and water. And they have asked as a precautionary measure for anyone leaving their room, excuse me, to wear a medical mask. Um we certainly advise people who are caring for those who are suspected um of this Andes virus or hunter viruses to wear a higher level of personal protective equipment. um that guidance has been given to the people on board but also there are the two patients that are in hospital in the Netherlands and there's a patient in ICU uh in South Africa and I am very happy to say the patient in South Africa is doing better and the two patients in the Netherlands we hear are stable so that is actually very good news so we have a a situation that we are we are full we are uh monitoring very very carefully these these numbers may change um as we're doing follow-up we may see some additional cases be reported Um and that shows that the active followup is happening and that the testing is being done. What we know about transmission um and there's been a lot of questions uh posed to us about you know what is actually happening.

[00:19:26]What we do know is that the Andes virus in previous outbreaks there has been instances of humanto human transmission mainly among close contacts either providing clinical care or people who have had close physical contact and we believe that's happening and has happened in the case here on the ship as well between the couple the first and second cases and also a medical doctor providing care. Um as you probably know those who develop um symptoms those who who go on to develop uh disease sometimes uh develop very severe disease which includes severe respiratory uh disease. So there may be some coughing there may be some um aerosolizing procedures that may be done and of course that's where we would require higher level care. So this is not COVID, this is not influenza. It spreads very very differently. So there are different precautions that people are taking. So, we are supporting the ship's operators in the mitigation measures that they are putting on board. And as we've said, we are working to have a proper and full disembarkment procedure step by step to support um authorities in the Canary Islands for the next stage of the people who are on board.

[00:20:34]>> And Dr. Mahmud, please.

[00:20:36]>> No, there was the second part of the question about whether this an epidemic or pandemic and all the things going on social media. I just wanted to address the situation. What makes unique here is similarity crowded in a confined space.

[00:20:53]We had a similar situation in Argentina in 2018 to 2019 when a symptotomatic individual attended a social gathering.

[00:21:03]So that led to a lot of people getting infected. So we are in a similar situation right now. A cluster in a confined space with close contact. Does that mean the rest of the world this disease will spread? We had that outbreak in 2018 and it led only 34 cases. We may had similar cases from there. So I just want to show that if we follow public health measures and the lessons we learned from Argentina now is shared across all countries. What needs to happen in contact tracing isolation we can break this chain of transmission and this doesn't need to be a large epidemic. It's an a specific confined setting where people are interacting in a prolonged close contact. So we feel it's very quite familiar to the 2000 outbreak in Argentina and we don't anticipate a large epidemic. With experience our member state have and the actions they have taken, we believe that this will not led to subsequent chain of transmission. But we need to be balanced, reasonable, supportive solidarity in containing this outbreak in a difficult environment that's happening there being in the weeks after weeks there. It's difficult. So the solidarity required and the support most of the people there as DG said are healthy individuals who are going with their lives. So is the public health measures able to break down the chain of transmission and we believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented and solidarity is shown across all countries.

[00:22:41]>> Thank you very much both. Next question goes to Christian from DPA.

[00:22:46]Christristian please go ahead.

[00:22:53]>> Yes thank you very much Christian. Uh my question goes in the same direction but a little bit further. We are six years out from um corona uh uh pandemic. Um this also started with very few cases and you experts know how this is different but we and our readers might not. I was wondering whether one of you can outline specifically how this is not uh uh uh um comparable to the uh early days or weeks of the corona pandemic and why uh uh the risks are lower than they were six years ago with corona. Thank you.

[00:23:36]>> Yeah, good comparison. Let's see if it is one. Dr. Verkov, please. I'm going to start and then I'm going to ask our expert here an Anna Ais to come in because this is not corona virus. Uh this is a very different virus. We know this virus. Hunto viruses have been around for quite a while. There's a lot of detail that we know. I'm going to ask NIS to come in and say this, but I want to be unequivocal here. This is not SARS KV2. This is not the start of a co pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship. There's a confined area.

[00:24:05]We have five confirmed cases so far. We completely understand why these questions are coming and we are trying to provide all of the information that we can. That's why we're having a press conference here to give accurate information and we're grateful for all of those who out there who are asking these types of questions. But this is not the same situation we were in six years ago. Um it doesn't spread the same way um like corona viruses do. It's very different. It's that close intimate contact that we've seen. And most haunt viruses don't transmit between people at all. Most haunt viruses are transmitted from rodents or their feces or their saliva um or droppings um to people and only this one particular virus the Andes virus which has been identified here we've seen some human human transmission and again I want to reiterate the actions that are being taken on board are precautionary to prevent any onward spread and so there's a lot that is being done right now um to be able try to minimize the risk even further um but I do want NI to come in and provides a little bit. No.

[00:25:07]>> Okay. Oh, okay. Thank you.

[00:25:10]>> Thank you very much. Um, next we have a question actually from Cabo V, but it came in in writing, so I'm going to read it out. It is. Um, hello and good afternoon. It is the Tudo Poco, the news website in Cabo. Thank you for that question. On May 2nd, a person died aboard the MV Hondos. As we know um the ship arrived afterwards in Kabada. The question is where was the body stored uh of the deceased or where is it right now?

[00:25:44]>> Yeah, thank you very much. So yes um in fact you are correct. Um uh an older woman uh died on board. Um the ship's operators are making arrangements for the remains um to be um stored appropriately uh carefully um and to make the onward um movement of the the remains um in a dignified way. So the the remains still are on board um we are in touch with the ship's operators about this um and about any onward um passage of the remains. So I think I'll just leave it at that. Um but yes, of course, and this is a reminder, these are people. Um these people have families and they have questions. Um but we're in in contact with the operators about the safe storage and and the onward um movement of the the remains.

[00:26:32]>> Thank you very much. Next question goes to James Gallagher from the BBC. James, please go ahead and unmute.

[00:26:46]James, do you hear us? Yeah, here you go.

[00:26:48]>> It It took a while for the popup to unmute to arrive. Thank you. Um, my main question is could you outline what you think is unusual about this outbreak or does it fit entirely within what we would expect of hivirus outbreaks and related on that could you draw on whether you think there is anything fundamentally different or shifting within hiviruses at the moment? I'm just looking at the PAO reports from the end of last year citing increases in cases and in some countries lethality in South America. If you could draw on those as well please.

[00:27:20]>> Great Jim thanks and we go to Anise Leon next to me. Technical lead on viral hemorrhagic fevers.

[00:27:26]>> Thanks thanks a lot for for the question. uh what is most unusual uh obviously is that we have a transmission in a boat uh which I think that the first documented to date uh with uh this particular virus as uh mentioned by my colleagues before a boat makes it a very specific environment uh for which uh we we we want to make sure that we have a good understanding on how the transmission has happened and most importantly to strengthen all the measures that my colleagues uh developed uh previously. Uh there is no indication to date that there is something further unusual but obviously the fact that it happened in a cruise ship uh with uh people from different nationalities and uh is something uh that we haven't uh seen before. Uh regarding your comment uh on the POW report, the epidemiological situation related to antiviruses in um in the Americas, uh you are right, a slight increase has been noted in in few countries. Uh just to recall that this update uh covers all antiviruses that are documented in um in the Americas uh where most uh countries uh at risk have good surveillance system and the increase uh can be related to uh several factors that needs to be determined what countries are working on probably linked to uh incidents on rodent population and different uh ecological and be behavioral factors. This doesn't specifically relate to uh this virus we are talking about and I want to recall that uh most anti virus cannot uh transmit human to human uh only the NS1 so it's really linked to the the rodent population over >> thank you very much anise next question no before I come to the next question we have a lot of long list of questions still um and we want to really get to everybody so please try to um limit your questions just to one. Um I'm pretty sure many people want to ask the same questions anyway. So next question goes to Lauren Sherro from Swiss News. Now we come to Switzerland.

[00:29:39]Lauren, please go ahead.

[00:29:45]>> Yeah, thank you for for the briefing. a question on contact tracing and the extent of what has already been done because it seems that the guy the the person who is in Zurich right now um was in a flight were not where the contact tracing was not started right away and uh so there is the threat that some people might not have been traced uh uh in the in the first days after the contact with with that person. So do you know where whether most countries uh affected have uh started but also probably ended uh the contact tracing process? Thank you.

[00:30:25]>> Thank you very much Lauron. This goes to Mahmud.

[00:30:31]>> Thanks. In terms of contact tracing and the policy for that each country has slightly different. What we recommending from WHO is extensive investigation and information sharing. So this contact the passenger was informed on two channels. One from the company informing the patient and then second from the IHR South Africa sharing that information with Switzerland. So from the national level to the canton level at least we will see it how that information pass because most of the information are shared at the capital level and then it goes to canton what was done here and that's we really need to appreciate the responsibility and the proactiveness of all the passengers contacted they follow the public health message and taking the necessary action now the canton and the authorities are doing the investigation and it takes a lot of time identifying all the contacts where he went and these are retrospective what we call retrospective contact tracing that meaning going backwards the day he arrived and all the way until the on so that data is being collected analyzed and then what we are encouraging now now that we have a confined environment and hopefully we'll have a date of departure prepare all the countries now there's a lot of lesson we learned from all the countries shared from South Africa The level of preparedness may have been slightly different. Now we all prepared and we'll have passengers and crews coming up. We encouraging and we'll be sharing the investigation and the contact tracing format and be proactive and the necessary recommendation. Each state and sovereign state will have a different application of from our recommendation. But we firmly believe that safe informed contact tracing and monitoring will reduce the further spread. So we we are finalizing that in consultation with global expert from our European CDC from US CDC from UK Netherlands on all that and we will issue that guidance in the coming tomorrow hopefully. But what we believe that the retrospective contact tracing is going on and action is being taken here in Switzerland.

[00:32:55]Thank you very much Dr. Mahmud. Uh now speaking of South Africa, we have a South African journalist here with us online. Um I'm not 100% sure if you're in a position to unmute. Let's give it a try and please go ahead and and identify yourself.

[00:33:11]>> Hello. Can you hear me?

[00:33:13]>> Very well.

[00:33:14]Hi, Marvin Charles here from News24. Um, could the World Health Organization perhaps shed any information about any confirmed cases in South Africa? We understand that there have been um at least four identified contacts in the Western Cape in South Africa, including in Somerset West where a resident is classified as high risk. And then I I know you said that we should stick to one question, but I just want to squeeze in just one more. um in terms of when um the World Health Organization um would advise countries to take some sort of precaution, when would that be? Because I understand that you said that you know you um this would be a limited outbreak, but when would you advise countries to to take some sort of precautionary steps? Thank you.

[00:34:07]>> All right. Thank you very much. Let's start with Dr. Van Kirkov and then we'll see if we have more in the context.

[00:34:12]Yeah, thank you very much for the question. I love to see uh how many uh people from around the world are asking questions. So um there have been two confirmed cases um in South Africa. Uh one was the second case that was identified um the contact the the wife of the first case um who sadly passed away. Um and then there is another case that is currently in ICU in South Africa and this person is doing better as we understand. Um we are working with the health authorities uh in South Africa also NICD and others on the contact tracing. They're taking the lead on the contact tracing. Really want to thank them for the thorough job that they have been doing. Not only have they identified the passengers and are following up from the flight, but they're also following up any contacts for people who attended to the woman who passed away who went through the airport. Um people medically caring for the man who is in ICU. Um and they're doing very active followup. I don't have the details specifically on what you mentioned on where they are, but there's active followup by the government's officials and NICD around monitoring of their health um if they have any symptoms uh putting in isolation and providing support and also doing further testing. We are getting information back from South Africa. They are doing some testing on the contacts and so far all of those tests have come back negative and again this is showing the signs that are working. Um and so again we really want to thank uh those that are there uh doing that hard work and very very detailed work um for the contact tracing.

[00:35:44]>> Thank you very much Dr. Verkov. Next question goes to Helen Branswell from Stat. Helen please go ahead and unmute.

[00:35:53]>> Thank you Christian. Um, this outbreak is happening at a time when the United States is no longer considering itself part of the WH. The United States has passengers on board the ship and I think there were people who disembarked who were also Americans. Um, I'm wondering how what are what are the interactions like between WHO and the United States in this setting? Are they the same as they are with other countries or are there is there less information flow as a consequence of the W the US withdrawing from WHO? Thank you.

[00:36:35]>> Yeah, thank you very much Helen. Good one. Uh Dr. Mahmud please.

[00:36:41]>> Thanks Helen. In terms of collaboration with us and US institution, it has been going very well on the technical side. We've been exchanging information as we are speaking right now. The US CDC has been joining Guan so are the state. So the information flow is there transparent and frank and information sharing. That's one on the technical side. On the other aspect there's the IHR at higher China channel.

[00:37:09]US is still a state party to IHR and information is being shared through South Africa. NFB communicated with the US and back and forth communication is going on but how does that translate in a global solidarity I will let time to tell but we really need this incident this outbreak has seen why with the world needs a global entity that coordinates this the Argentina support how they came forward the support we are receiving now from US institutionals we live in an interconnected world that outbreak from one part affects everywhere So in terms of collaboration we are going both through the technical collaborations in sharing information guidance we rely heavily as DG multiple side what I'm saying is that the expertise of USCDC is an asset for the world and we have been benefiting from that and we will continue and then we go through the IHR channels in sharing formal information and the technical exchange >> and Ana Leon please. Yes, I just like would like to emphasize the excellent collaboration on a technical standpoint to date with my counterpart at the US Center for Disease Control and this include sharing of technical assessment um discussion about um you know very specific aspects and and and sharing regularly uh what is what is known and what is not known. we are we have very positive regular interaction um almost every single day. So I just want to acknowledge that among other um national counterparts this is very useful.

[00:38:52]>> Thank you very much both. Now oh pardon me again.

[00:38:56]>> Yeah. No I just wanted to add to what colleagues uh raised. Thank you Helen for that important question.

[00:39:05]Um as we speak things are going actually as it used to be meaning sharing information from our side and also we're getting information from the US side based on the IHR uh regulation.

[00:39:22]Um and as you know the WHO's mission is to um you know help the world to be safe and our mission includes the US which is we want the American people to be safe as well. So we will continue to collaborate from our side and continue to give information um so the disease is not a problem in the US and the rest of the world uh as as as well but as colleagues indicated this is what makes a platform like like who very very important.

[00:40:02]Um health security needs universality.

[00:40:06]Uh and any vacuum any space uh which is not covered actually gives advantage to the virus and the best immunity we have is solidarity.

[00:40:20]So because of the event that's happening now and you know both Argentina and the US are affected um I think they will reconsider uh their decisions because they can see how important universality is for health security because viruses don't care about our politics and they don't care about our borders and they don't care about you know all the um u excuses that uh we we we may have. So I hope this could be a good lesson um for the whole world because solidarity is our best immunity. I I I repeat thank you.

[00:41:12]>> Thank you very much Dr. Tedros. Um then now we go to Ireland to Neil Michael from the Irish examiner. Yeah, please go ahead and mute.

[00:41:25]Do you hear us? You still on?

[00:41:30]Neil, if we can't grab you right now, then we go on to NPR. Gabriel.

[00:41:35]Gabrielle, Emmanuel. Uh, Gabrielle, please try and we come back to Neil afterwards.

[00:41:43]No. Oh, >> hi. Yeah, >> thank you so much for doing thank you for doing this. I wanted to follow up on that point about the US um engagement here. Typically, my understanding is we would have had press conferences and um uh health alerts and other information coming out of the US CDC and NIH. Um we haven't had that and I'm wondering um you say they're participating um in terms of a technical capacity. Have they sent a team over like would typically happen? Um can you get into some more specifics about what is is missing or what is different about this situation now that they have left? Thank you.

[00:42:26]>> Thank you very much Camil and we go to Dr. Abd Mahmud Dr. Chuaz first.

[00:42:33]>> So thank you very much. We our colleagues have explained in detail um the collaboration with the USCDC in the response that we have managed uh on behalf and in collaboration with many countries around the world and we're very grateful for that. How many teleconferences they hold to the people in the US is obviously the responsibility of the US and the US CDC and we leave that responsibility to them. But however to highlight one thing um you know the one of the core requirements of the IHR 2005 is for countries to build the core capacities that they require uh to do the work that we do and in this response we've really seen the output of that the institutions across the world and the collaboration between them from South Africa the UK Spain Netherlands Cape V their national public health institutions the national public health uh officials have really worked together with each other, supporting each other, sharing information, sharing reagents, sharing knowledge to respond rapidly to an emerging uh situation. So I think um in all of this we see the value of one the IHRs and what it stands for and secondly the implementation of the IRS both in real time but also in the longer term cap capacities that that countries have built around the world and it is on that that we build this universality that our director general just commented on. uh one is the principle of university but secondly is the implementation of it through the institutions that represent that in in all the countries around the world back to you >> and now Dr. Mahmud please >> Dr. Tedra and Dr. Chu has covered the main point. I just wanted to answer there so that we have clarity and it repeats again to the other question is this pandemic is epide epidemic and how we deal with it and how us in a system like USCD is dealing there's a limited epidemic confining a cruise ship idea of sending messages across the world and panicking everyone is not required and I think I want to take those do the contacts and the passengers in the US being contacted and traced We believe so and we haven't formally heard from that but informally we're aware that rightful action has been done so there's no need of panicking the entire population there and it's creating this the largest epidemic is going to happen so I just want to take this opportunity when we look at comparing institution and that is are the public health action being taken in each of the countries where NFP South Africa has shared yes are we getting feedback Yes. And each country will have a different approach how they deal with it and that's their own. So I just wanted to take that point answering the specific question. How is US CDC?

[00:45:32]Why is no alert been sent? Because what we have there are passengers who are contact who went back to the US who are now currently being traced by the local authority sharing information to US CDC and hopefully through the IHR channel sharing back information to WHO.

[00:45:52]Thank you very much Dr. Chick with Dr. Abdi. Next question we try again with Neil Michael from the Irish examiner. No has dropped. Then uh we go on to Jennis Coup from Bloomberg in South Africa.

[00:46:04]Janice, >> hi thanks very much. Um I wanted to find out um how long does it take to get the lab test results for the Andes virus currently and is a specific assay needed?

[00:46:18]just related to that and some clarity on an earlier question. The Kalem flight attendant who had contact with the second patient who died um she's now that flight attendant has been hospitalized in the Netherlands and I was wondering is she symptomatic and when can we expect to know her test results?

[00:46:37]>> So first was about uh time and then yeah Dr. An >> um thank you. Yes, this is a very important question about how long it test uh the test um are are performed.

[00:46:54]Um so the PCR is the technology that is being used uh and um uh countries are scaling up their capacity to ensure there are the adequate reagents. As you know this is not a very common virus. Uh so we are supporting countries to ensure there are the capacity to test should they have alerts. uh if reagents are available the PCR performed is fairly quick in a matter of hours and just to mention as well that there will be complimentary testing using cerology which we are also helping countries to prepare for that's for the first question >> and just on the second question very briefly so it it it adds on to what NAS has just said it it depends on the type of test that's actually being done um certainly any of the contacts including um the one that you've mentioned the the the flight attendant um will be isolated and testing will be done. I don't have a specific time for when the test will be back, but we in are in regular contact with our with the Dutch authorities to receive that type of information. So, as soon as that is ready, it gets reported back to us as well and of course to to the to the patient themselves. But it will depend on the type of sample that's done, the type of test that's done um for that for the timeline and when the results will be back. But I can assure you that everybody that is involved with this is just as eager to do the testing as quickly as they can as long as they have the right materials and again we are supporting um several countries with reagents to be able to test for this Andes virus and as an has said this is not a very common virus um mainly found in the Americas. So we're trying to provide support at as one of the functions of who to ensure rapid uh diagnosis of any uh person that is tested for this.

[00:48:38]Thank you very much both. And next we go to Lemon Delin Ruk. Um Delin, please go ahead and unmute.

[00:48:52]How does it look like?

[00:48:55]Then >> we can go now. We're good. Yes.

[00:48:59]>> Yeah. Perfect. Uh thank you for for this briefing. Um I just have a question.

[00:49:06]When will we have more information about the virus sequencing sequencing sorry and uh any differences observed compared to the strength from the 20 2018 outbreak in Apen that you mentioned earlier. Will we be able to identify which mutations cause for concern? Thank you.

[00:49:25]>> So I did not understand everything but I think we got it. Yeah. and we start with Anna Leon.

[00:49:29]>> Yeah, if I if I understood correctly, it's about the the genomic sequencing and you actually pointed out toward very uh interesting information that we are looking at. Um we are awaiting the result from both South Africa, Switzerland uh and Pastor Dhaka who are all putting all their effort into uh performing the full genome sequencing of that virus. the full genome sequencing um if uh good coverage is obtained will be very useful for us to see how it clustered compared to previous outbreak as you uh rightfully mentioned especially that last outbreak uh you referred to um and it will give us a sense of whether or not we are seeing uh some changes um and uh again we have to acknowledge the tremendous work that are being done by these three three laboratories that I mentioned and all the international support that they have received to date.

[00:50:26]Can I can I just want to add to that because I think again this is another example you know of having rapid sequencing being done by these three labs who are really exceptional labs but the sharing of sequence information particularly when you have outbreaks like this can provide a tremendous amount of detail and this is important every event that we have not only are they doing this work as rapidly as they can but we have pulled together uh expertise in Andes viruses and they will be debating of course what I see there and comparing with the other sequences that have been shared. We discussed this a lot up on this panel here and how and we've been discussing this a lot with the pandemic agreement and the PABS annex that people have been discussing the critical importance of sharing information but not just that actually bringing together people to do that risk assessment. What does it actually mean?

[00:51:15]So from the information we have so far you know and they're still doing the sequencing we haven't seen anything unusual but that's why we bring together the best minds to be able to do that.

[00:51:23]And again that includes people from Argentina who have specific experience with this particular virus and now we will have more people around the world.

[00:51:30]So as soon as we know um and as soon as that analysis is done of course we will share that information as necessary.

[00:51:38]Thank you very much both. Now we move back to Germany. Deutsches adds the blood. Valentine FMA Valentine please go ahead and unmute Valentine. Otherwise, we come back to you. No, you're coming if we don't get to you. Ah, here we go.

[00:52:02]Can you?

[00:52:02]>> Yeah.

[00:52:03]>> Sorry. Hey, Valentine.

[00:52:06]>> Um, thanks for the conference. Um, my question is, so we've learned already that the incubation time is relatively long. So my question is so uh with the few on the people in isolation, how long do they have to be in isolation before they are tested negatively? Because so or in other words, how many time how how much time does it take at most until the the antibbody or PCR tests um are positive? I hope this was clear.

[00:52:44]>> Thank you for the question. Can we start with uh Ana?

[00:52:48]>> I I hope I understood your your question correctly and sorry for that if I if I didn't. Your question is how long after symptoms is the PCR detecting the RNA?

[00:53:01]Is is it correct >> or how long would people need to stay in isolation to be sure that they're not uh infected? So what what what we know is yes the incubation can be up to 6 weeks and for that time contact who have been potentially exposed need to monitor their health uh for any sign of symptoms. Um the the the RNA of the virus can be detected in a symptotomatic person so someone who is ill uh from the first day of of onset.

[00:53:33]>> Thank you very much. Next question. And uh we go to global Brazil from global Bianca Roier. Bianca, please go ahead and unmute.

[00:53:43]>> Hi, can you hear me?

[00:53:44]>> Very well.

[00:53:46]>> Thanks a lot. Uh good afternoon everyone. A follow up on this point because you said six weeks monitoring but does it mean six weeks of isolation?

[00:53:58]And now my my main question, what is the mortality mortality rate of the Andes strain of h virus? And just uh as I'm covering this story for the Brazilian television, my understanding is that the Andes strain of h virus is also present in Brazil. Correct. So should Brazil's health authorities reinforce protocols for cruise ships after this case? Thanks a lot for your attention.

[00:54:28]So the first was the specification on the six weeks >> and then the question whether on on this virus is also avail present in uh Brazil and whether protocol should be adapted >> and and and the mortality.

[00:54:44]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:54:45]>> So maybe I will start with the mortality and I might let colleagues to to complement on other aspects. um the high mortality has been observed in um previous outbreak. This is true. Uh but we are emphasizing the importance of early supportive and intensive care and this is why we are also putting in place this contact tracing uh measures. It is very important that any uh patient uh can be admitted to a safe and adequately equipped with trained staff to ensure that patient can receive the level of care that is needed uh in case they present severe presentation and deter deteriorate. So hopefully with early care um survival uh can be uh can be improved. In terms of um virus circulation in Brazil, I'm not sure if there was a question but any uh country who have antiviruses not just endes uh should obviously scale up their surveillance system and one else approach to understand where this virus in which sorry animal rodents the virus circulate and ensure that interaction uh with rodents can be minimized or conducted safely to avoid uh rodent to human transmission. in countries that have the virus present in their reservoir.

[00:56:08]>> Thank you very much.

[00:56:10]Maybe to add on the hunter virus as such and >> the question. Yes. So no, thank you.

[00:56:16]Thank you very much for the question. So um Nas had described earlier and we have we'll talk in general but then specifically about the the situation with the ship and the people who are in contact. Um certainly we have the incubation period of up to six weeks.

[00:56:29]That doesn't necessarily people need people need to be in isolation for six weeks. What is really important is that people have the right information. We understand what their potential exposure is so that we can understand their risk.

[00:56:40]Contacts are not all the same. Some contacts have a higher risk of exposure and therefore a higher risk of infection and others have less. So what is happening happening currently right now on the ship? We have a WHO expert who is on board together with an ECDC expert.

[00:56:56]Um we have two Dutch infectious disease physicians who are on board. They have received protocols. They're asking questions related to the exposures of the people on board to really understand um you know what what type of contact did they have with any of the uh suspected cases or confirmed cases and what did they generally do on the ship um before they got on the ship during on the ship and then looking at what type of exposures and what type of risk that means with that risk assessment that's being done. there is a step-by-step plan that is being developed and it's currently in develop with many different experts to be able to say once that ship docks um what will happen as it goes on board. So that is currently being developed. Now what is really critical is that people have the right information. This also includes people who disembarked from in St. Helena, people who have been on board um if you are developing any symptoms to present yourself to healthcare and just say this is this is my potential exposure. Um might be hunto virus and then you'll be isolated and tested and provided care.

[00:57:57]So what we're trying to do is take this in a in a staged approach, but I do want to reiterate contextually what we're talking about. The risk to the general public is low. H viruses are relatively uncommon even though there may be thousands of cases estimated each year.

[00:58:13]Um this is a particular situation where we are monitoring. I think it's great we're raising awareness about haunt viruses in general. It's great that countries are paying attention to this and hopefully governments and increasing their surveillance efforts and really critically using this onealth approach because it is predominantly in rodents and that's how people get infected. So this is why as Chway has said before around IHR the core capacities in countries for early detection good surveillance having good public health systems is critical. So whatever is circulating there, we have the right facilities in place to keep people safe.

[00:58:50]>> Thank you very much. And Dr. Mul, >> ju just a small clarification on the the question was isolation and who not to be pedantic about the use of what isolation are confirmed cases who are symptomatic.

[00:59:03]So I just wanted to put in context and then the second the context people who been exposed to infections we we are recommending right now active monitoring. What does that active monitoring means? Each country will have a different approach. Some countries are now introducing institutional quarantine where people will be put but we have to remember most people don't have putting people in six weeks are different. So we lift that decision from our WHO side the most highly are the cases and confirm which needs to be isolated and then the contacts needs to be followed duration up to maximum of 40. How does that happen? Active monitoring is the daily visit by healthcare workers. Is it be put in an institution? It will change but just to break the change of transmission we have two different approach. One is the isolation of confirmed cases who we know they have infections and people who are at risk who been maybe have been exposed where we call active monitoring and different countries use quarantine institutional quarantine and all that. I just wanted to separate what who is recommending isolation of the confirmed cases and the active monitoring of the exposed people who may be at risk. How is that implemented? may change from one country to another and then take the maximum duration of the 42 days. If you look at what we have seen right now within two three weeks the people when they got exposed they had the onset of disease but the clear guidance show up to 42 days. So that's the maximum that we are recommending active monitoring of those people who have been exposed.

[01:00:46]>> Thank you very much to all the three of you. Now we come to Politico Rory Neil.

[01:00:51]Uh Rory, please go ahead.

[01:00:56]>> Hello. Thanks very much. Um yeah, I'm just curious about what happens when passengers uh disembark. Okay, you've just you just clarified your guidance on isolation there, but like should passengers be going on commercial flights back to their countries when they disembark and would you have any concerns around that? Um uh yeah, thank you.

[01:01:17]So the question how should the passengers now who disembark how should they move on with them?

[01:01:25]>> I will start and probably my colleagues will compliment me. Um yes a step-by-step guidance is being developed to make sure that all passengers and crew members are supported throughout this journey. Don't forget what they they've been through. And so who is coordinating with u national health authorities uh to streamline recommendation and and and guidelines on that and um uh to to to ensure that first as my colleagues say that anyone who would have uh any sign or symptoms can be uh properly isolated and cared for while all passenger are being evaluated for their risk exposure. um to um to to be able uh to inform them on uh what are the recommendation moving forward. Uh so this is uh still work in progress. Uh the evaluation is already ongoing in the boat but further guidance is is being streamlined and developed.

[01:02:28]>> I think if I could just add to that so so as you know there's a lot that's currently being discussed right now. I did want to specifically mention that we are working with all of the countries who have nationalities that are on board to discuss the plans for the safe journey of those patients home once they disembark once they are medically evaluated what those decisions will be and as NI said that is currently being developed it needs to be very carefully um done um but we are working with the countries about that onward passage home so I just want to assure and we are also working with the ship's operator because of the crew So remember on board we have passengers from many different countries. We also have crew from many different countries and everyone involved all of the governments the ships operators want to make sure that they get home safely not only minimizing their own risk but any risk to others.

[01:03:19]So that is currently being developed. Um and as those plans are announced then then we will make those available but there's active discussion about how that will be done as safely as possible.

[01:03:31]>> Thank you very much both. Next uh we go to the Globe and Mail, Mustafa Alasar, please.

[01:03:40]>> Hello. Can you hear me?

[01:03:42]>> Well, >> thank you so much. I appreciate your time. Uh can I ask about the medical condition of the Canadian passengers including the two Canadians who have been evacuated in April and you have mentioned uh that the all governments uh you are in contact with all governments.

[01:03:58]Uh can I ask uh whether the Canadian government has been in contact with the WH regarding um their safety or evacuation? Uh my next question is uh what is the WHO protocol for contact tracing in details and also we have been monitoring two live streams from the chip. Uh in one in in one the streamer appeared distressed was crying and was asking for help. In the other the streamer seemed cold, calm and stated that people in board were not under stressed uh take the situation seriously but without panic. He said to us that the situation appears to have been extremely overstated. Could you please clarify uh this contract? Thank you so much.

[01:04:44]>> Thank you most of a bit more than one question but let's see.

[01:04:47]>> I I heard three. I'm not sure if I got the first question. Um, which I think was related to Canadians if we're working with the Canadian government.

[01:04:55]Um, we are working with all of the governments that I mean this is this is what WHO does, right? We are a member state organization and we work with all governments. Um, and they are working with us as well to about the the people who are on board. Um, I think your last question, I didn't get the second question, but I think your last question was around the passengers who have um either live streamed or said that they were under some distress um on the on the ship. Yes, we've seen videos. We've seen that video. And in fact, in some earlier interviews, I was trying to address directly the passengers that are on board because we hear them. As you know, the DG has been in contact with the ship's captain uh several times and discussing you know this the captain is doing the best that he can to provide the right and appropriate duty of care for those people who are who are on the ship. Um we hear them we are working with many including you know everybody on board to ensure not only do they have medical support and that's why there are two additional infectious disease doctors from the Netherlands on board but also providing some psychosocial support as well. This is quite frightening for those who are on board.

[01:06:02]Um they want to have the right information and regular information about what's happening. Our understanding right now is that the morale has improved because the ship is moving and plans are being made um to get them safely uh to shore and for their onward journey home. Um so yes, we have heard that and I think what you highlight here and what I would like to emphasize is that it's not only the clinical care but it's also care for people's mental health. Um, and it's really about making sure that they have good information so that they can take action because of course there is a worry on the ship. But we understand there's also a worry out there. And again, this is why we're trying to answer questions to just put this into context of what is actually happening.

[01:06:41]And again, the general the risk to the general public is low.

[01:06:47]>> Thank you very much. And I think although we have still many questions left, we are ready to take one more. And that one goes to Sarah Nui from the Telegraph. Sarah, please go ahead.

[01:07:02]>> Hello. Thank you so much for doing this.

[01:07:04]Um, I just wanted to talk quickly about medical counter measures. Um, there obviously aren't any treatments or vaccines um, available. Is that a blind spot in global pandemic preparedness and which teams are kind of furthest ahead?

[01:07:17]Um, if this did escalate, how quickly could we get a vaccine for instance?

[01:07:20]Thank you, >> Alex.

[01:07:24]>> Yes, thanks. Uh very important point currently there is no approved uh medical counter measure if we are referring to antiviral treatment or specific vaccine targeting this specific virus. However, as you know, uh there is a coordination around research and development blueprints uh that is uh supported by WH to ensure that all priority viral families uh can timely develop uh such counter measure and the antivirus are a big family that is um considered under um a cork. what what we say um so WHO encourages uh scientists and and countries uh to join effort and to see how feasible it is to develop uh life-saving uh counter measure. Um but I want to reemphasize the importance of early supportive and intensive care uh as soon as possible as a patient um has symptoms as this can save life and of course we welcome additional counter measure. I leave my colleague >> if I can. Yes. So the R&D blueprint for epidemics which was established by who um following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2017 we outlined um priority pathogens and from there these are priority pathogens that have an epidemic or pandemic risk that didn't have medical countermeasures and a lot of work has happened over the last almost 10 years related to the development of better diagnostics better therapeutics better vaccines for pathogens that we know have a risk. Um recently the R&D blueprint has moved to more of a pathogen family approach so that we take a more holistic view of how research is done um to advance you know what could be done ahead of time ahead of that next outbreak ahead of that next pandemic. We benefited from that for from COVID for COVID for the work that was done on SARS and on MS and on RNA technology and this is what we want to continue to see. So that investment in research, that investment in innovation, the investment in the coordination of people who are working on this, we're very grateful for that from a technical point of view, the work of SEPY, the work of many others um who are advancing this type of work. But that needs a regular regular attention, regular uh investment and also follow-up. So what are we learning? What actually needs to be done? So the R&D blueprint is is working uh very hard on many different types of pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential and as an said this is one um in a family of viruses where this approach is being taken. So those of you who are out there who are doing research in this area thank you very much. Those of you who are out there who are funding research in the area, please continue to do so.

[01:10:13]Um because it is urgently needed because we are always preparing for the next outbreak, the next epidemic. And I want to reiterate again, this is not the start of an epidemic. This is not the start of a pandemic. But it is a good opportunity to say that investment in pathogens like this are critical because therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines save lives.

[01:10:36]>> Thank you very much. Before I hand to Dr. Tedros for closing remarks, let me just say um any further questions uh please send to us thanking the panel and now over to Dr. Tedros.

[01:10:50]>> No, I was I was going to add to the question about Canada. Uh we know that the public health agency Canada is following up on the two Canadians who have disembarked at St. Helena and of course the other four in the ship are also being followed by other relevant authorities of Canada. Uh that's one one information I just would like to to add.

[01:11:20]Uh and then um on closing our session today, thank you so much to all members of uh the press for for joining us and as needed we will continue to uh keep you updated. Thank you so much. All the best.