<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More cases of a deadly, rodent-borne illness could emerge in the coming weeks but the risk to public health is "low", according to the World Health Organisation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cases of hantavirus, the term for a group of viruses carried by infected rodents that can pose a severe disease risk in humans, emerged on luxury cruise ship MV Hondius last month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The vessel had been marooned in quarantine off the coast of Cape Verde in West Africa since Sunday.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/isis-brides-return-to-australia-update-two-women-set-to-be-charged-with-crimes-against-humanity-and-one-with-belonging-to-a-terrorist-group/a21f8385-426a-4792-99ef-39e3aaeacde3"><strong><span>ISIS brides' bid for freedom after appearing in packed courtroom</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said eight cases of the Andes strain of the virus have been reported so far, including three deaths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as Hantavirus, while the other three are suspected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Given the incubation period of the Andes virus, which can be up to six weeks, it's possible that more cases may be reported," Ghebreyesus said in the latest briefing.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/hantavirus-updates-more-cases-of-virus-possible-but-risk-is-low-leading-health-body-says/6029ebdb-938a-457b-804c-ed057615fd57" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's possible that more cases may be reported."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ghebreyesus said the first two people with the confirmed virus had travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the excursion included visits to sites where "the species of rat known to carry the virus was present".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first case was in a man who developed symptoms on April 6 and died on the ship on April 11.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No samples were taken, and because his symptoms were similar to those of other respiratory diseases, Hantavirus was not suspected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The man's wife, who was also symptomatic, went ashore when the ship docked at the island of Saint Helena.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She deteriorated on the flight to Johannesburg on April 25 and died the next day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Samples were taken, which was taken to South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/julie-bishop-resigns-as-chancellor-australian-national-university/e9234196-f3ea-4e44-9627-2e66162780ab" rel="" target="" title="Julie Bishop quits as ANU chancellor after months of turmoil"><strong><span>Julie Bishop quits as ANU chancellor after months of turmoil</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ghebreyesus said the third death was a woman on the ship who developed symptoms on April 28 and died on May 2.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another man, who remains in intensive care, presented to the ship's doctor on April 24.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Doctors boarded the ship to provide care for the three other passengers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two are in a stable condition and one is asymptomatic in Germany .</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The eighth man disembarked at Saint Helena and reported himself with symptoms in Zurich, Switzerland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No remaining passengers or crew on the ship are currently symptomatic, according to Ghebreyesus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"WHO is aware of reports of other people with symptoms who may have had contact with one of the passengers," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In each case we're in close contact with the relevant authorities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cruise ship is now sailing to the Canary Islands following a request by the WHO to Spain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're confident in the capacity of Spain to monitor the risk and we're supporting them to do so," Ghebreyesus said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here 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