WHO: No New Hantavirus Outbreak Deaths Reported Since May 2

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaks during a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, May 11, 2021. (Antara - Xinhua - Lian Yi - aa)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO), Wednesday (13/5), said that there were no new deaths from the hantavirus outbreak associated with the cruise ship reported since May 2, while the global public health risk remains low.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on the X social media account that a total of 11 cases had been reported to the agency by May 12.

According to Ghebreyesus, as reported by Antara, eight of the cases have been laboratory confirmed as infections caused by the Andes virus.

Hantavirus is a rare disease that is usually transmitted through infected rodents or their feces, although the strain responsible for this outbreak, the Andes virus, can also spread between humans through prolonged close contact, often in enclosed environments.

He added that one additional case was still undergoing further laboratory testing.

"WHO continues to assess the risk to the global population as low," Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO chief also said that the agency is maintaining close contact with experts from all participating countries and continues to receive weekly health reports on passengers and crew members through the official channels of the International Health Regulations.

Ghebreyesus said international coordination efforts continued to support measures aimed at protecting public health.