The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that despite major progress in containing a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship evacuation, response efforts are still ongoing and “the work is not over.”

The statement comes as international health authorities continue coordinated evacuation and monitoring operations following the outbreak, which has affected passengers from multiple countries and led to several fatalities.

According to WHO updates, the outbreak linked to a cruise vessel carrying more than 140 passengers and crew  has recorded multiple confirmed and suspected cases, including deaths, prompting a large-scale multinational medical response.

WHO officials explained that while evacuation of most passengers has been completed, remaining crew members are still being monitored, and ongoing testing, quarantine procedures, and contact tracing remain in place to prevent further spread.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that although the situation is being managed and the global risk remains low, continuous vigilance is necessary due to the severity of the virus in confirmed cases and the complexity of tracking exposure across multiple countries.

Health authorities have also reiterated that hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents, and only limited human-to-human transmission has been observed in rare strains involved in the current outbreak.

The WHO said it is working closely with national health agencies to ensure all exposed individuals are properly monitored while medical evacuations and laboratory investigations continue.

Officials maintain that while the outbreak is under control, full containment will require sustained international cooperation in the days ahead.