'This disease is not Covid', says WHO Director-General about Hantavirus
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sought to ease concerns by clarifying that Hantavirus is not Covid, following cases linked to a cruise ship off Spain. He added that while monitoring is underway, the risk to the wider public remains low.
Reuters
May 10, 2026
Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends an ACANU briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, April 29, 2026.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Saturday (May 9) that the Hantavirus disease "is not Covid".
Ghebreyesus was speaking at a press conference in the port of Granadilla De Abona, where the Hantavius-hit cruise ship is due to anchor on Sunday (May 10).
He said that the Covid concern is valid as the 'trauma is still in our minds'.
He added however that the risk to the local Spanish population is low.
The World Health Organisation briefed member states with nationals on board on Saturday on how to manage the process, advising active monitoring of passengers for a 42-day period from the last point of exposure.
The ship is expected to anchor near the island between 0300 GMT and 0500 GMT.
Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Reim Nahaboo/Reuters
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