The Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the problems do not end with the evacuation of passengers from the Hondius cruise, where an outbreak of hantavirus was detected. According to him, “the work of the health authorities is not over.”
The official stated at a press conference, a day after the evacuation of tourists from the ship, that the WHO can provide recommendations to the 20 countries from which the passengers originate, but cannot impose protocols.
“Considering the long incubation period of the virus (…), other cases may appear in the following weeks. WHO has clear guidelines. We cannot force countries to apply our protocols. We can only advise and recommend. The WHO recommendation is for evacuated individuals to be actively monitored, either in a designated quarantine center or at home, for 42 days starting from the last exposure, which is May 10, which means June 21,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO.
According to the head of the Organization, the risk of the virus spreading globally is small, and the authority is “taking the situation seriously,” reports Agerpres.
Currently, there are 8 confirmed cases and 7 people suspected of having hantavirus. Another three patients have been struck down by the disease, due to the outbreak on the cruise ship.