The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that the hantavirus outbreak has concluded after a 60-day period. The final individual who was in contact with a person exposed to hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has completed their quarantine, tested negative, and returned home. No new cases have been reported since May 25, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The outbreak, first reported on May 2, originated from cases on the MV Hondius cruise ship, with health officials suspecting exposure during land excursions in Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. The exact source of exposure remains under investigation. The WHO indicated that human-to-human transmission of hantavirus likely occurred, specifically the Andes virus strain, which is known to spread between people.
The outbreak resulted in three fatalities and 13 infections among passengers on the ship, all of whom were repatriated in May for quarantine. In the United States, the 18 passengers who returned were quarantined for 42 days, with 16 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and two in Atlanta. All U.S. passengers completed their isolation periods by June 21.
Ghebreyesus stated that WHO and local health officials monitored over 650 contacts across 33 countries and territories during the outbreak.