The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Sunday that it is maintaining its assessment of the hantavirus outbreak as posing a “low risk”, as the cruise ship where the virus was detected approaches the Dutch coast.
In a statement, the organization said: “The public health risk has been reassessed based on the latest available information, and the global risk remains low.”
It added: “Although additional infections may occur among passengers and crew members who were exposed before containment measures were implemented, the risk of transmission is expected to decline after disembarkation and the implementation of monitoring measures.”
The cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to dock at the Port of Rotterdam between 10:00 a.m. and noon on Monday (08:00 GMT), according to officials, before disembarking the remaining 27 people on board, including 25 crew members and two medical staff members.
The ship, operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, made headlines after the deaths of three passengers who contracted the rare hantavirus, for which there are currently no specific vaccines or treatments.
AFP
