The World Health Organization announced that six confirmed cases of Hantavirus have been identified so far out of eight suspected cases following an outbreak aboard a cruise ship, raising global attention and health concerns over the incident.

In its official statement, the organization reported that as of May 8, a total of eight cases had been recorded, including three deaths, reflecting a high fatality rate of 38 percent, while six cases were laboratory-confirmed as Hantavirus infections, all identified as the Andes virus strain known as ANDV.

The WHO emphasized that the current assessment indicates a low level of risk to the global population despite the severity and fatality rate associated with the virus, noting that it continues to closely monitor the epidemiological situation and will update its risk assessment as new data emerges.

Regarding the situation onboard the cruise ship, the organization stated that the risk level for passengers and crew members is considered moderate, given ongoing health measures and active monitoring of close contacts.

This development comes at a time of heightened global sensitivity to emerging infectious outbreaks, with international health authorities prioritizing rapid response and containment efforts to prevent isolated incidents from escalating into broader public health threats.