00:00Eight cases have been reported including three deaths. Five of the eight cases have been confirmed
00:08as hantavirus and the other three are suspected. The species of hantavirus involved in this case
00:17is the Andes virus which is found in Latin America and is the only species known to be
00:24capable of limited transmission between humans. None of the remaining passengers or crew on the
00:32ship are currently symptomatic. WHO is aware of reports of other people with symptoms who may
00:41have had contact with one of the passengers. In each case we're in close contact with the relevant
00:48authorities. Given the incubation period of the Andes virus which can be up to six weeks,
00:57it's possible that more cases may be reported. While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the
01:07public health risk as low. WHO is developing step-by-step operational guidance for the safe
01:15and respectful disembarkation and onward travel of passengers and crew when they arrive. WHO has
01:24also informed 12 countries whose nationals disembarked in St Helena. Those 12 countries are Canada,
01:32Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland,
01:40Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
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