An international team of virologists working with the World Health Organization has completed its analysis of the hantavirus outbreak aboard the infected cruise ship and concluded that the detected viral changes do not pose a significant threat. The Telegraph reports.
According to the specialists’ assessment, the virus is indeed continuing to undergo minor changes as it spreads, but the identified mutations remain minimal and do not alter its core characteristics.
Researchers found no evidence suggesting that the virus has become either more transmissible or more deadly.
The outbreak involves the Andes strain—the only known variant of hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person.
Experts stress that the current situation should not be compared to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physicians believe the outbreak will likely remain limited in scope, and the situation may stabilize in the near future.
The incident previously drew attention after the outbreak of the rare disease aboard the cruise ship raised concerns about the possibility of infections spreading beyond the vessel.