Risk Of Hantavirus Spread Remains Low - WHO Chief

MOSCOW, May 6 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The public health risk of hantavirus, cases of which were identified among passengers on a liner in the Atlantic, is considered low at the current stage, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

"At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low," Ghebreyesus wrote on X, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

Earlier in the day, the WHO said that the Andes strain of hantavirus had been detected on the Atlantic cruise liner, with the diagnosis confirmed by tests conducted at institutes in South Africa and Switzerland.

The total number of confirmed infections reached eight after an additional case was identified in a patient who had returned to Switzerland. Three of them died.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI