WHO Head Tells Countries to Prepare for More Hantavirus Cases

WHO has identified 11 cases , nine confirmed and two suspected with three deaths , all linked to passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship.

Spain's health ministry confirmed that a Spanish passenger evacuated from the MV Hondius has tested positive for the virus. The case involves a passenger currently quarantined at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid. The patient presented with low-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms but remained stable with no significant clinical deterioration. The remaining 13 Spanish passengers tested negative .

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , speaking at a press conference alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, stated there is "no sign" of a larger outbreak beginning, while also noting the situation could change. He acknowledged that more cases are expected , pointing to the gap between the first infection on April 6 and its eventual identification as a key concern. He also clarified that the WHO cannot force countries to follow its protocols and can only advise and recommend.

Meanwhile, 16 people are currently at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, 15 in the quarantine unit and one asymptomatic positive case in the biocontainment unit. Health officials across Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia are also monitoring residents with potential links to the ship.

The MV Hondius itself departed back toward the Netherlands on Tuesday after its final group of evacuees disembarked and flew home.