WHO Corrects Hantavirus Outbreak Count on MV Hondius Cruise Ship After False Positive

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised the hantavirus outbreak case count aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the South Atlantic, reducing the total from 11 to 10 cases. The adjustment comes after a previously reported US case was confirmed as a false positive.

During a press briefing on Friday, WHO officials announced the correction, which reflects the re-evaluation of test results linked to an American doctor aboard the vessel.

Initial Reports and Inconclusive Results

US health officials had initially classified the case as "mildly positive," while the WHO deemed it "inconclusive." Despite the uncertainty, the case was included in the agency’s May 13 outbreak report and referenced in a briefing held on May 14.

The case involved Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, an American physician onboard the MV Hondius. Kornfeld had assisted in responding to the outbreak after the ship’s doctor fell ill. In an interview with CNN earlier this week, Kornfeld described how he and others on board had collected nasal swabs in early May, prior to evacuation. These swabs were sent to two laboratories in the Netherlands for PCR testing.

Dual Lab Results and Final Correction

One of the Dutch laboratories reported a negative result, while the other returned a faint positive. The discrepancy led to the initial inclusion of Kornfeld’s case in the outbreak count. However, further analysis confirmed the positive result as a false positive, prompting the WHO to revise the total case count downward.

The MV Hondius, a cruise ship operating in the South Atlantic, has been the center of the hantavirus outbreak investigation. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.