Hantavirus Situation Stable, WHO Chief Says

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, at its headquarters in Geneva 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, resulting in three deaths, were reported.

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 in early April, infecting other passengers.