WHO head tells countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases

[Beringia]

Source: The Guardian

The head of the World Health Organization has told countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases after the outbreak onboard the MV Hondius, and thanked Spain for the “compassion and solidarity” it had shown by taking in the stricken cruise ship and evacuating its passengers and crew.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he told a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday.

“We would expect more cases because, as you may remember, the index case – the first case in the ship was on 6 April … [and] there was a lot of interaction, actually, with the passengers. And as you know, the incubation period is also six to eight weeks.

“So because of the interaction while they were still in the ship – especially before they started taking some infectious prevention measures – because of the interaction, we would expect more cases because of some of what happened during the travel.”



Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/12/who-head-warns-countries-prepare-more-hantavirus-cases

[angrychair]

1. I'm confused

I have had people in certain circles desperately try to say that "this isn't a big deal" that "it's won't spread" or that "it won't be a a pandemic"

Yet

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he told a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday.

WTF 😳

That is not spoken with the confidence that this is not a big deal or that it couldn't turn into something bigger.

Not what I was expecting. We could not be this unlucky to have this moron in charge for two different pandemics. There is just no way we are this unlucky.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. I take the phrase "More cases" to mean cases among the passengers and crew on the ship

There were 150 passengers and crew IIRC, and so far, just a dozen or so confirmed cases.

I’m not aware of any cases of anyone not on the ship (a flight attendant had symptoms, but tested negative).

Hantavirus is nowhere near as contagious as COVID, usually one must be in close contact to pass the virus to someone else.

We shall see, the next couple of weeks should reveal if they were successful in containing the cases to just the passengers and crew.

[Beringia]

6. I don't know how hantavirus can spread. I suppose if people's contacts got it, it could spread

It could spread out, but how far I am couldn't guess

[COL Mustard]

2. Didn't we see this not too long ago? Something is vaguely familiar about this situation.

I just wish I could remember what it is. I guess maybe it's COVID to me soon.

[lonely bird]

3. Not to worry

RFK, Jr. will take time out of his busy schedule collecting roadkill to address this. No vaccine will be developed because reasons.

[Mysterian]

4. USA will stock up on ivermectin

We'll let them take it this time.

[RoseTrellis]

7. WHO lost cred

The WHO lost a lot of credibility with how covid was handled.

[Mysterian]

8. Compared to the imbeciles in the US government,

WHO was remarkably effective and efficient. WHO has not lost credibility as you claimed. Furthermore, WHO has examined and acted on areas to improve, while the USA has doubled down on its idiocy.

[Initech]

9. No they did not. Social media trolls ran rampant with misinformation.

And that's how we got the demented brain worm psycho in charge of public health.