The Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced on Friday evening that the likelihood of Hantavirus transmission in the Maldives is still "very low."

The announcement comes after an outbreak occurred on the cruise ship “MV Hondius,” which left Argentina roughly a month ago. The virus has so far taken three lives aboard the ship, while four other individuals were evacuated for medical care. In reaction, global health organizations have initiated actions to track passengers who arrived back in nations like the United Kingdom and the United States to prevent any additional transmission.

Hantavirus is typically spread via air polluted by rodent feces, urine, or saliva. The variant found

The event has drawn considerable global interest due to increasing worries about the chance of a broader outbreak.

The HPA stated it is actively observing the situation via the World Health Organization (WHO) after the virus was identified on a cruise ship in the South American area. The agency has verified that there have been no virus cases or any individuals known to have come into contact with infected individuals in the Maldives so far.

The HPA also assured the public that the threat to the Maldives stays very low and mentioned that updates will be provided as more information is obtained.

Health authorities have emphasized that the risk to the public overall is still low. WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove has confirmed that the situation does not indicate the onset of a pandemic. She explained that Hantavirus is quite distinct from COVID-19 and influenza, highlighting that its mode of transmission is completely different. on the cruise ship is the “Andes” strain, known for spreading via close human-to-human contact.