Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The number of confirmed individuals infected with the deadly Hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius has risen to five, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. </p><p>In a press conference, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreysus also confirmed that the Andes Virus is the type of Hantavirus that has infected one of the patients based on sequencing results. </p><p>“The Andes Virus, found in Latin America and is the only strain (of Hantavirus) known to be capable of transmission between humans,” he said. </p><p>Despite this the WHO says that based on previous outbreaks, human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus was observed in people associated with close and prolonged contact including those among household members, intimate parters or those providing care.</p><p>Hantavirus is a group of viruses that can cause severe disease in humans following exposure to rodent saliva, urine or droppings. </p><p>The virus can also enter the body through cuts, the eyes and sometimes, though rare, through bites. Its incubation period can be anywhere between one and six weeks.</p><p>“Given the incubation period of the Andes virus which can be up to six weeks, it’s possible more cases may be reported.”</p><p>Experts say that at times those who fall ill from the virus go on to develop severe respiratory disease.</p><p>While it is seen as a serious incident, the world body continues to assess the situation as a low public health risk. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>What we know of the patients so far</strong></div><div><strong>Patient 1 and 2:</strong></div><p>Further tracing and investigations by the WHO reveal that the first sign of illness was exhibited by a passenger on April 6. Because symptoms were similar to other infectious diseases, no samples were taken from him. He died on April 11. </p><p>The man’s wife also showed symptoms but went ashore when the cruise ship docked in St. Helena. Her condition deteriorated during her flight to Johannesburg, South Africa on April 23rd. She died the following day. Samples were taken from her and were later confirmed as Hantavirus. </p><p>“Prior to boarding the ship, the first two cases have travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird watching trip which included visits to sites where there’s species of rats known to carry the Andes virus was present,” Ghebreyesus said. </p><div><strong>Patient 3:</strong></div><p>The third case was a woman who developed symptoms on April 28 and died on the 2nd of May. </p><div><strong>Patient 4:</strong></div><p>Health experts also identified a man who was presented to the ship’s doctors on April 24 with symptoms. He was medically evacuated on April 25 to South Africa where he remains under intensive care. </p><div><strong>Patient 5 and 6:</strong></div><p>WHO did not identify whether these patients are related only that they are currently in a stable condition in a hospital. </p><div><strong>Patient 7:</strong></div><p>Ghebreyesus said the patient is asymptomatic and is in Germany. </p><div><strong>Patient 8:</strong></div><p>The WHO said the latest case is a man who disembarked in St. Helena and reported he had symptoms in Zurich, Switzerland. </p><p>“It was confirmed yesterday that he was infected with Hantavirus. The hospital sequenced the samples and confirmed it as Andes.”</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/doh-filipinos-aboard-mv-hondius-show-no-signs-of-hantavirus-infection-1742">DOH: Filipinos aboard MV Hondius show no signs of Hantavirus infection</a></div><div><br/></div><p>Apart from the eight cases, the WHO said none of the remaining passengers and crew of the ship, including 38 Filipinos, are showing symptoms of illness.</p><p>Twelve countries have been informed by the WHO whose nationals disembarked in St. Helena. Among them are Canada, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkiye, United Kingdom and USA. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘This is not the coronavirus’</strong></div><p>WHO’s Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Management Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove emphasized that unlike SARSCov2 that was completely novel at the time it began to spread, the Hantavirus and the Andes strain are not new. </p><p>“This is not COVID. This is not influenza. It spreads very differently. We know this virus. Hantaviruses been around for quite a while. This is not the same situation we were in six years ago,” she said. </p><p>According to the UK Health Security Agency, the Hantavirus is “not spread through everyday social contact like walking in public spaces, shops, workplaces, or schools.”</p><p>“In the rare instances where a person has caught hantavirus from another person (rather than from a rodent), they have had close and prolonged contact with the person who has been infected with hantavirus,” it said. </p><p>Health experts say however, the Hantavirus outbreak in a cruise ship is the first documented to date. </p><p>The WHO the MV Hondius is now sailing to the Canary Islands which has agreed to let the ship dock at the port of Granadilla. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship may arrive over the weekend. </p><p>At this time, all passengers have been requested to stay in cabins with those who may show signs of illness to undergo isolation. </p><p>“Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline,” it said on its website.</p>

<p> The number of confirmed individuals infected with the deadly Hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius has risen to five, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. </p>

The number of confirmed individuals infected with the deadly Hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius has risen to five, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

WHO: Andes strain of Hantavirus infected one of 8 patients on MV Hondius

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Health & Science

WHO: Andes strain of Hantavirus infected one of 8 patients on MV Hondius

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 08, 2026 01:14 AM PHT

Read More:

WHO

hantavirus

MV Hondius

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.