WHO Chief Warns Hantavirus Work Not Over After Cruise Ship Evacuations

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday that "our work is not over" to contain hantavirus after evacuations from a cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak of the illness.

The MV Hondius outbreak has raised international alarm after three passengers died from the rare virus, which has no vaccines or specific treatments.

Health officials emphasized that the global public health risk remains low and dismissed comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic's start.

"There is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak," Tedros said at a joint news conference in Madrid with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"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," Tedros added.

More than 120 passengers and crew were flown out from Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday and Monday. Countries have applied varying health measures to their returning evacuees.

Most nations followed WHO guidelines, which call for 42-day quarantines and constant monitoring of high-risk contacts.

"I hope they (countries) will follow the advice and recommendations we are making," Tedros said in Madrid.

Eighteen American passengers returned to the U.S. on Monday and are under monitoring at medical facilities in Nebraska and Georgia.

Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said sounding "a five-alarm fire bell" does not make sense. He noted the public risk from hantavirus is "much, much lower" than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's very different than COVID, and we should treat it differently than COVID," Bhattacharya told CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil on Monday when asked about the lack of daily briefings on the outbreak.

The MV Hondius created diplomatic challenges as countries negotiated over receiving and treating its passengers.

Cape Verde, an archipelago off Africa's west coast, refused to accept the ship. It stayed anchored offshore the capital Praia while three people were evacuated to Europe by air last week.

Spain permitted the vessel to anchor off the Canary Islands for the Sunday and Monday evacuations, though Cape Verde's regional government strongly opposed the action.

Sanchez defended his government's policy. "The world does not need more selfishness or more fear. What it needs are countries that show solidarity and want to step forward," he said.