'We know this virus': WHO on comparisons of hantavirus outbreak to COVID-19 pandemic

The World Health Organisation on Thursday dismissed concerns that the hantavirus outbreak could spiral into a global pandemic.

Updated on: May 07, 2026 10:50 PM IST

By Danita Yadav

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The World Health Organisation on Thursday dismissed concerns that the hantavirus outbreak could spiral into a global pandemic. Panic set in after at least eight cases of hantavirus were confirmed after an outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

On Cam: WHO Breaks Silence On Hantavirus Outbreak, Says Low Risk But More Cases Cannot Be Ruled Out

Addressing a press conference on the outbreak, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a director at the UN health agency, stated that the hantavirus outbreak is not similar to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also Read | ‘Possibility of more cases, but public risk remains low’: WHO on hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

“This is not COVID. This is a very different virus, and we know this virus. Hantavirus has been around for many years,” she said, adding that the current outbreak remains confined to the cruise ship and its passengers.

“This is not the same situation we were in six years ago," WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention said further.

WHO experts added that they expected the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic to be "limited", as long as public health measures and "solidarity" are implemented.

"We believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented and solidarity shown across all countries," said emergency alert and response director Abdi Rahman Mahamud during the press conference.

Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship causes panic

The UN health agency has confirmed a total of eight cases of the virus, of which five have been confirmed, and three are suspected.

The outbreak caused panic after the WHO confirmed the deaths of three infected people and began contact tracing any passengers of the cruise ship, which had disembarked.

In the press conference, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as “a serious incident” but added that the risk to public health remains low.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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