The WHO recently confirmed that the virus on an affected ship was the Andes variant, the only type of hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks to reporters following an emergency committee meeting during a press conference at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 20, 2026. Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 25 that the hantavirus situation is stable for now, after 12 cases were reported, resulting in three deaths.
The outbreak of the rare, deadly virus is believed to have originated in Latin America after an infected traveler boarded the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius earlier this month, infecting other passengers.
Victoria Friedman is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of international stories, with a particular interest in technology, eastern Europe, and defense.
