WHO: Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship is not a pandemic like COVID

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]The World Health Organization has reassured the public that the deadly Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship does not represent a situation similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:00:10]Maria Van Kerkhove, director for epidemic and pandemic management at the World Health Organization, said that Hantavirus is a virus that has been known for years and is very different from the coronavirus.

[00:00:23]Quote, "This is not coronavirus. This is a completely different virus.

[00:00:28]Hantaviruses have existed for a long time." she said during a press conference in Geneva.

[00:00:34]>> [snorts] >> She emphasized that the situation aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius should not be compared to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:00:41]Quote, "I want to be very clear. This is not SARS-CoV-2 and this is not the beginning of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak in a confined space on a ship." Van Kerkhove stated.

[00:00:54]According to the World Health Organization, the risk to the general public remains low since Hantavirus is usually transmitted by rodents and rarely spread from person to person.

[00:01:04]The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 people on board, is sailing toward the Canary Islands where it is expected to arrive in Tenerife over the weekend.

[00:01:13]Spain accepted the World Health Organization's request to allow the ships to dock despite objections from local authorities.

[00:01:21]The World Health Organization said it is preparing detailed guidance for the disembarkation and return home of passengers while emphasizing that none of the people currently on board the ship are showing symptoms of the disease.

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