WORLD - The World Health Organization has reassured the public that the risk posed by hantavirus remains very low, following reported suspected cases on a cruise ship in the Atlantic.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that while the virus can be serious for infected individuals, it does not pose a significant risk to the general public.

He noted that in some cases, transmission did not even occur between passengers staying in nearby cabins. “This is not like measles at all… This is not a new COVID,” he said.

The cruise ship “MV Hondius,” which has drawn international attention following three suspected deaths linked to hantavirus, left Praia Bay in Cape Verde on Wednesday and is currently heading to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, where it is expected to arrive on Sunday.

Around 150 passengers and crew members remain on board and are expected to disembark early next week. The vessel has been under an international health alert since last weekend, after the WHO was informed of the suspected cases.

Hantavirus is typically transmitted from infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva.

However, experts say the strain identified on the ship — Andes hantavirus — is rare and may be capable of limited person-to-person transmission.