The individual, who is a man, was traveling on the Dutch-flagged ship, the Hondius, at the center of the outbreak.
He is being treated in a hospital in Zurich after returning to Switzerland and responding to an email from the ship's operator.
“In accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR), WHO is working with relevant countries to support international contact tracing, ensure potentially exposed people are monitored and any further spread of the disease is limited.”the agency said in a post on X.
As of Wednesday, three of the ship's 147 passengers had died since it crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Argentina to its current dock off the coast of Cape Verde, according to the WHO.
On Day
“At this stage, the overall risk to public health remains low,” Tedros emphasized.
expedition ship
Publicly available data indicates that the ship was built in Croatia and launched in June 2018. The Hondius measures around 108 meters long and is listed under ship identification number 9818709 with the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The vessel has capacity for 196 passengers and 72 crew members; It is named after the 17thth 19th century map editor and engraver Jodocus Hondius.
The expedition ship's maiden voyage in 2019 took it from Vlissingen in the Netherlands to the volcanic island of Jan Mayen and Spitzbergen in the Arctic Circle.
The UN agency said that victims may have been infected with the disease before shipment. So far it has reported eight cases of infection, including three confirmed as Andean hantavirus. through laboratory tests.
On Tuesday, the WHO said one person was in intensive care in South Africa, although his condition was “improving.”
Work to identify the virus has involved National Institute of Communicable Diseases of South Africa and University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG). The Pasteur Institute of Dakar and the National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes of Argentina also provided “critical” support, the WHO said.
Patient care is the “top priority”
“WHO will continue to work with countries to ensure that patients, contacts, passengers and crew have the information and support they need to stay safe and prevent the spread,” the agency said.
At a news conference on Tuesday, the WHO said the “top priority” was to evacuate the two sick passengers still on board “to ensure they receive the care they receive.”
Once the ship arrives in the Canary Islands, Dr. María Van Kerkhove from the agency explained that Spanish authorities will carry out a full epidemiological investigation and complete disinfection of the ship, before assessing the risk to passengers who remain on board.
“We've heard from quite a few people, you know, on the ship. We just want you to know that we're working with the ship operators. We're working with the countries where you're from. We hear you. We know you're scared.” said Dr. Van Kerkhove, Director (ai) of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday.
As a precautionary measure, passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins while disinfection and other public health measures are carried out.
