‘THIS IS NOT COVID’ – WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION MOVES TO ALLAY HANTAVIRUS FEARS

The World Health Organisation is seeking to assure that an outbreak of hantavirus on board a luxury cruise ship is not the start of a new pandemic.

The United Nations health agency says this situation is not similar to the COVID-19 pandemic of 6 years ago.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says the risk to the region from hantavirus remains low, but is urging Antigua and Barbuda and other member states to stay alert.
BBC News says health authorities are racing to trace dozens of people who have recently disembarked from the Dutch vessel MV Hondius.

The WHO has said five of eight suspected cases of hantavirus have so far been confirmed.

Three people have died, including a 69-year-old Dutch woman, who had the virus.

The luxury cruise, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on April 1 in Argentina, and is expected to arrive in Spain’s Canary Islands on the 10th of May.

The WHO’s infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr Maria van Kerkhove provided an update on Thursday.