Hantavirus cases from cruise outbreak rise to 13 following new case in Spain, WHO says

GENEVA (REUTERS)

The number of cases of Hantavirus linked ​to a cruise ship at the centre of an outbreak has increased to ⁠13, the head of the World ​Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

"Spain ​reported ‌a new case ⁠among ​the passengers who are in quarantine, which brings the total number of cases to 13," ‌WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said ‌in a post on X.

Among them, three died, but there ​have been no new deaths since May 2, Ghebreyesus said.

"The situation remains stable. Passengers who got sick are receiving needed ‌care, while others ​remain in quarantine," Ghebreyesus said.

In the last two weeks, all remaining passengers, crew members, and ​medical staff ‌disembarked ⁠the ‌MV Hondius luxury ‌liner at the centre of the outbreak.

Hantaviruses are ⁠rodent-borne viruses that can infect ​people and cause illness.

The WHO estimates there are 10,000 to 100,000 human cases globally each year, with severity varying by strain.