WHO confirms new cruise ship hantavirus case, passenger hospitalised in Zurich

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Swiss authorities had confirmed a hantavirus case in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who later presented at a hospital in Zurich, where the patient is currently receiving treatment. He added that the passenger had responded to an email sent by the cruise ship operator informing travellers about the health emergency onboard.

In Short

• WHO confirms another hantavirus case on MV Hondius
• Eight cases linked to the outbreak as of May 6
• Patient receiving treatment in Zurich hospital

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that another passenger on board the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has also tested positive for hantavirus, raising concerns over the deadly outbreak that has already killed three passengers.

In a post on X, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of hantavirus identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who presented to hospital in Zurich. The patient is currently receiving care at a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland."

He added that the patient had responded to an email sent by the cruise ship operator informing passengers about the health emergency onboard.

The WHO chief further confirmed that as of May 6, authorities had identified eight cases linked to the outbreak, three of whom have now been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections.

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