The head of the World Health Organization has stated that work is not over to contain a hantavirus outbreak following evacuations from a cruise ship. While the WHO insists the risk to the public remains low, the organization warned that more cases are possible due to the virus's long incubation period.
The WHO has urged countries to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, and extensive testing to contain the illness. The organization has stressed that this current outbreak is vastly different from the COVID-19 pandemic, though guidelines such as a 42-day quarantine have been recommended.
Many nations have vowed to work together and are following WHO guidelines, drawing on experience gained during the Covid pandemic. However, the US has diverged from these protocols, stating that American passengers would not necessarily be subject to quarantine. US officials report that 18 Americans are currently being monitored for symptoms.