May 7, 2026
WHO Official Says Hantavirus Outbreak Isn’t the ‘Next COVID’
‘This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic,’ says Maria Van Kerkhove.
TL;DR
- A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship off Cape Verde is not expected to become the 'next COVID'.
- An official from the World Health Organization (WHO) made this statement.
- The official noted that most individuals will not be exposed to the hantavirus.
- It was clarified that this outbreak is not caused by SARS-CoV-2 and is not the start of a COVID pandemic.