Geneva, May 18 (SANA) The World Health Organization said Sunday it continues to assess the Hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship bound for the Netherlands as posing a “low” global public health risk.
In a statement cited by Agence France-Presse, the WHO said it had reassessed the situation based on the latest available information and concluded that “the global risk remains low.”
The agency said additional infections among passengers and crew exposed before containment measures were introduced remain possible, but added that the risk of transmission is expected to decline after passengers disembark and monitoring measures are implemented.
The Dutch-operated cruise ship MV Hondius, run by Oceanwide Expeditions, is expected to dock in Rotterdam around midday Monday, officials said.
The remaining 27 people on board, including 25 crew members and two medical workers, are due to disembark after three passengers died following infection with the virus.
Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne disease that can cause severe respiratory illness. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available.
N.J/ABD
