The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared the recent Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius over, confirming that the final exposed individual completed quarantine, tested negative, and has returned home.
Speaking during an online briefing on Thursday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said no new infections have been recorded since May 25, effectively ending the international public health response. The outbreak resulted in 13 confirmed cases and three deaths, with health authorities monitoring more than 650 contacts across 33 countries. Scientific investigations will continue, including a multinational study involving 21 countries to improve understanding of transmission and disease progression.
However, Dr Tedros warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to deteriorate, with an average of 38 new confirmed cases daily over the past fortnight—evidence of sustained community transmission. As of July 2, the DRC has recorded 1,406 confirmed cases, including 438 deaths. Testing capacity has expanded to ten laboratories closer to affected communities, and contact tracing has improved, with four out of five identified contacts now under monitoring. Yet nearly 96 per cent of 650 treatment beds are occupied, prompting WHO and partners to establish an additional 300 beds to meet rising demand.
In a significant milestone, the first patient has been enrolled in the PARTNERS clinical trial, assessing the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral Remdesivir, both individually and in combination. WHO has also granted emergency use listing for the first molecular diagnostic test specifically designed to detect the Bundibugyo virus.
Despite these advances, the response faces grave obstacles, including insecurity and community mistrust. An Ebola treatment centre in Ituri Province was recently attacked, leaving two people dead, forcing patients to flee, and destroying parts of the facility. Dr Tedros condemned the violence, stressing that such acts endanger patients and frontline workers while undermining containment efforts. To strengthen coordination, the WHO and the United Nations have appointed Julien Harneis as senior Ebola coordinator.
On a positive note, no new Ebola cases have been recorded in Uganda since June 21. However, authorities have confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in Kyegegwa District, detected through enhanced surveillance. All identified contacts remain symptom-free.
The WHO also drew attention to the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, which has claimed more than 2,300 lives and left nearly 16,000 homeless. The organisation has released $1.5 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and dispatched over six metric tons of medical supplies, with an additional 28 tons on the way.
Separately, the WHO highlighted that air pollution remains a persistent global crisis, with 6.5 billion people exposed to dangerous levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to an estimated 6.7 million premature deaths annually—disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan and Northern Africa. The Director-General also called for stronger regulation of social media platforms, citing growing risks to children’s mental health and privacy from addictive designs, harmful content, and data exploitation.
Member states are set to resume negotiations next week on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement, as the organisation reaffirms its commitment to international collaboration in addressing concurrent health emergencies.
