Hantavirus Cruise Horror Escalates? WHO Warns Of Possible Human Spread, Says 'Can't Be Ruled Out...'

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]Hont viruses are viruses uh that are carried by some types of rodents. They can cause severe illness in humans and they can be fatal. Human to human transmission is uncommon though limited spread among close contacts has been observed in some previous outbreaks with one of the viruses the Andes virus. Uh who is working closely with authorities in Cababo Verde, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the ship's operators to coordinate actions to ensure the safety and health of all people on board while also limiting further spread.

[00:00:34]>> Fresh developments in the hentus outbreak are reviving uneasy memories of the global panic scene during the co pandemic.

[00:00:42]Around 40 [music] passengers reportedly disembarked at St. Helena as authorities rush to trace possible chains of infection and exposure.

[00:00:51]Dutch national carrier KM has now made a major statement regarding two passengers allegedly infected during the unfolding health scare.

[00:01:00]Meanwhile, an urgent international effort is underway to contain the outbreak as the virus hit cruise ship remains under quarantine.

[00:01:08]An outbreak of antivirus infections aboard a cruise ship has sparked growing international concern among global health authorities. As of May 7th, reports indicated that at least three people had died after contracting the antivirus infection. The World Health Organization stated that by May 6th, three cases had been officially confirmed while five additional infections remained under investigation.

[00:01:30]Dutch authorities reported that nearly 40 passengers disembarked from the vessel during a scheduled stop at St. Helena. One infected passenger later returned to Switzerland where health officials confirmed a positive antivirus diagnosis [music] according to the WH. Reports further stated that 146 passengers remained on board the cruise ship under isolation protocols as of May 6th. The developments were disclosed publicly by WH Director General Tedros Adhan Gabriis during remarks on May 7th. Meanwhile, reports emerged that two Dutch nationals infected with the virus later succumbed to the illness. A statement issued by Dutch airline KM on May 6th claimed that authorities had confirmed two deaths linked to the outbreak. One of the infected individuals [music] had reportedly boarded a Johannesburg to Amsterdam flight before being removed from the aircraft. According to KM, the Dutch passenger later died in South Africa after complications linked to the antivirus infection.

[00:02:29]The KM statement said, and I quote, "Yesterday evening, the Dutch public health authority, RIVM, informed KM that one of the Dutch nationals who died from Havirus had briefly been on board a KM aircraft in Johannesburg on April 25th, 2026 due to the passenger's medical condition at the time. The crew decided not to allow the passenger to travel on the flight.

[00:02:53]The passenger sadly later passed away in Johannesburg.

[00:02:57]KLM extends [music] its condolences to the next ofqin and wishes them much strength during this difficult time. The flight concerned was KL592 code share AF8282 DL9560 SK6855 which departed Johannesburg JNB for Amsterdam AMS on April 25th at 11:15 [music] p.m. local time. After the passenger was removed from the aircraft, the flight departed for the Netherlands.

[00:03:24]As a precaution, all passengers who are on board this [music] flight are being informed by GGD Kamemerland.

[00:03:31]RIVM states that there are indications that the hivirus in question, the Andes strain, can be transmitted from person to person. However, this appears to be very rare. Internationally, only a few such cases have [music] been reported.

[00:03:46]Moreover, persontoperson transmission occurs only when people have very close contact with one another. End quote.

[00:03:55]The affected cruise vessel had originally departed from Argentina and was traveling toward the Canary Islands before the outbreak surfaced.

[00:04:02]Authorities subsequently halted the ship near Cape Verde off the western coast of Africa amid mounting health concerns.

[00:04:08]Argentina, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United [music] States are now reportedly coordinating efforts to prevent any wider international spread.

[00:04:19]Pantivirus is classified as a [music] rodent-b born viral disease that can infect humans through environmental exposure. The virus primarily spreads through the urine, droppings, and saliva left behind by infected rodents in contaminated areas. The most common mode of transmission occurs when people inhale air contaminated with virus particles from rodent waste. Certain antivirus strains may also spread through close human-touan [music] contact, although such cases remain uncommon. Initial symptoms typically include fever, extreme fatigue, body aches, and persistent muscle pain during the early stages of infection. In serious cases, the virus can lead to respiratory failure, severe lung complications, or significant kidney damage. Although relatively rare worldwide, antivirus infections [music] can become life-threatening if not detected and treated quickly. Health experts advise avoiding direct exposure to rodents [music] and staying away from potentially contaminated environments or surfaces. The World Health Organization currently assesses the overall global public health risk from hentus as low.

[00:05:24]A WHO official also stated on May 6th that the possibility of limited humanto human transmission cannot yet be ruled out.

[00:05:32]>> Hont viruses are viruses uh that are carried by some types of rodents. They can cause severe illness in humans and they can be fatal. While we don't often hear about them, there are thousands of infections that are estimated to occur globally each year. People are usually infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, their droppings or their saliva. Human to human transmission is uncommon, though limited spread among close contacts has been observed in some previous outbreaks with one of the viruses, the Andes virus. Uh WHO is working closely with authorities in Cabo Verde, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the ship's operators to coordinate actions to ensure the safety and health of all people on board while also limiting further spread. WHO has informed all of our member states through our channels, our our international health regulation channels. We are supporting the medical evacuation of the two sick patients who are stable on board and we're coordinating with the Dutch and Cabo Verde authorities and the ship's operators. What we know typically about honores, I just want to put this in context. Typically the exposure and the infection comes from contact with rodents. We have seen with one of the viruses, the Andes virus, that there has been some limited humanto human transmission. Now I know that means different things to different people but just to say that's really among very close contacts um which is what we're I'll come to your later question later what we actually think is happening has happened um in the current context on the ship itself the plan is and our highest priority is to medically evacuate these two individuals to make sure that they have the care that they receive. So the plan that is currently in the works it's underway. Um the plan now is for the ship to continue onto the Canary Islands. We're working with Spanish authorities who will welcome the ship, have said that they will welcome the ship. Um to do a full investigation, a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship, and of course to assess the risk of the passengers that are actually on board. This was an expedition boat and many of the people on board were doing bird watching. They were doing, you know, a lot of things with with wildlife. Um, so our assumption is they were infected off the boat um and then joined the crews. The crews did stop at many different islands up the coast uh of of Africa and again seeing a lot of different wildlife on those islands. There are birds. Some islands have a lot of rodents, others don't. So there could be some source of infection on the islands as well for some of the other um other uh suspect cases. However, we do believe that there may be some human-touman transmission that's happening among the really close contacts, the husband and wife, people who've shared cabins, etc. So again, our assumption is that has happened and that's why we are operating and working with the ship to make sure that anyone who is symptomatic, you know, anyone caring for patients is wearing uh full uh personal protective equipment. The medical um uh personnel who have boarded the boat have brought additional PPE as well. So that's that's our working assumption. You know, there are thousands of cases of haunt virus that do occur um each year from exposure to rodents. Um but there is one cluster in Argentina that uh happened a few years ago um that we often refer to. It's uncommon. It's definitely uncommon. And again, when you have an enclosed settings, you have people that are spending a lot of time together, you know, these types of things can happen.

[00:09:00]Right now there aren't any specific treatments um for haunt virus but uh care is supportive. Uh typically people will um develop respiratory symptoms. So respiratory support um is really important particularly oxygen. Um some require um mechanical ventilation. Um so what we want especially if patients are deteriorating we want to make sure that they um they have uh appropriate level of care. they have intensive care um and they have respiratory support. What we are our working assumption is that it is the Andes virus. It could not be but we're assuming that it is um until we're we determined otherwise because we do know that in the past there has been some limited humanto human transmission with this virus. Um the po point being regardless of which virus it actually is um we do know that some of the cases have had very close contact with each other and certainly humanto human transmission can't be ruled >> [music]