WHO says hantavirus risk low after flight attendant tests negative

The World Health Organisation insisted Friday that there is a minimal risk from the hantavirus to the general public, as countries prepared to repatriate passengers stuck on a cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak. Three passengers from the MV Hondius — a Dutch husband and wife and a German woman — have died while others have fallen sick with the rare disease, which usually spreads among rodents.

The only hantavirus species which can transmit from person to person — Andes virus — has been confirmed among those who have tested positive, fuelling international concern. The Dutch-flagged vessel, which has around 150 people on board, is expected to arrive in the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife on Sunday. Special flights will take passengers to their home countries.

“This is a dangerous virus, but only to the person who’s really infected, and the risk to the general population remains absolutely low,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier addressed journalists. He indicated a picture was emerging from MV Hondius where “even those who have been sharing cabins don’t seem to be both infected in some cases”, when one has fallen sick. “That shows you again, luckily, apparently, the virus is not that contagious that it easily jumps from person to person,” he indicated.

The WHO has showed there were five confirmed and three suspected cases of the virus. There are no suspected cases on the ship. An update was expected later Friday. – KLM flight attendant negative – Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions indicated 30 passengers, including the first fatality, disembarked at the remote British island of Saint Helena on April 24.