Health
More Hantavirus cases may emerge in coming weeks — WHO
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World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus says additional cases of Hantavirus may emerge in coming weeks, following the evacuation of passengers from the outbreak-hit cruise ship MV Hondius.
Tedros said at a joint news conference on Tuesday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid that “global public health risk remains low.
“Given the long incubation period of the virus, it is possible that we may see more cases in the coming weeks.’’
According to Tedros, 11 Hantavirus-related cases have so far been reported, including three deaths, while nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as Andes virus infections, as the remaining two are considered probable cases.
“Our assessment continues to be that the global public health risk remains low,” he said, adding that there is currently “no sign” of a larger outbreak.
Tedros said the WHO recommends that all evacuated passengers undergo active health monitoring for 42 days from their last exposure date, either in designated quarantine facilities or at home, with the monitoring period lasting until June 21.
“Anyone who becomes symptomatic should be isolated and treated immediately,” he added.
Tedros also thanked the Spanish government for agreeing to receive the ship and lead the evacuation effort, praising Spain for fulfilling “its legal duties under international law” while also demonstrating “solidarity, compassion and kindness” throughout the operation.
The Spanish government agreed on May 5 to receive the MV Hondius after a hantavirus outbreak was reported aboard the vessel.
This came following requests from the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union and more than 20 governments seeking assistance in evacuating and repatriating those on board.
The vessel arrived off the Spanish island of Tenerife on May 10 and docked at the Port of Granadilla a day later.
During the two-day operation, passengers and some crew members disembarked from the vessel and were transferred under strict protective and sanitary measures before being flown out of Spain.
Sanchez described the evacuation operation as a “success”, saying Spain had coordinated 10 special flights to evacuate more than 120 people of different nationalities who had disembarked from the vessel between May 10 and May 11.
He added that the operation had been conducted under four guiding principles: scientific rigour, absolute transparency of information, institutional coordination, and international cooperation.
Spanish health authorities said all evacuated people from the MV Hondius had left Tenerife by May 11, while the vessel departed for Rotterdam with 28 crew members remaining on board.
The European Commission said it is coordinating closely with Spain, EU member states and other countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The EU said it’s also working with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the WHO and other partners to coordinate passenger disembarkation, return transfers and follow-up health monitoring.
(Xinhua/NAN)
Health experts have assured Nigerians that advances in science, treatment and technology have transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable health condition.
The assurance was given at the weekend in Abuja by the Chief Executive Officer of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Prof. Prosper Okonkwo, during activities marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
Okonkwo said people living with HIV can now achieve viral suppression, live healthy lives, have families and pursue their careers without the virus defining their future, describing the progress as the result of years of investment, advocacy and public health interventions.
He noted that APIN currently has more than 314,000 patients on antiretroviral treatment, while about 96 per cent of them have achieved viral load suppression, adding that access to treatment has improved significantly compared to the early years of the epidemic.
The organisation also disclosed that more than 83,000 pregnant women and children who tested positive for HIV in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau and Benue states had been placed on treatment as of March 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission and improve healthcare outcomes.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned sachet water producers to stop producing unregistered water and to renew expired licences or face punishment.
The warning was given by the Director of NAFDAC in the South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, after the agency carried out an enforcement operation in parts of Rivers State, including Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, Degema, and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
During the operation, 16 sachet water factories were shut down and their owners were invited for questioning.
NAFDAC said the factories were found operating in dirty conditions, using unsafe filters, providing wrong addresses, and, in some cases, using expired licences or violating other regulations.
In a statement on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the South-South Zone, Cyril Monye, the agency also warned that factories operating illegally or obstructing officials from carrying out their duties would be shut down and their owners prosecuted.
NAFDAC further urged the public to report any illegal water production.
According to the statement, “The sachet water factories include: Obra Bo Table Water, Abalama, Asari Toru LGA; Loilia Table Water, Okpo, Degema LGA; Jima Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; and Inye Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA.
“Others are Obuta Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; S.P. Nimi Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; Soaltam Table Water, Obuama Harry Town, Degema LGA; and Piasso Table Water, Usokun, Degema LGA.
“Also shut down are: Imumsco Table Water, Port Harcourt–Degema Road, Degema LGA; Granpa Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA; Daa Ajuka Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA; and Diob Table Water, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA.
“At Ikwerre LGA, four factories were shut down. They include AQUA-TOBSON Table Water, DUCO Table Water, CHISODEK Table Water, and NEO BRAIN Table Water.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned Nigerians against relying on unverified home remedies for Ebola Virus Disease, stressing that substances such as bitter kola, salt water, herbs, and seasoning cubes cannot prevent or cure the deadly infection.
The agency issued the warning in a public advisory obtained by our correspondent, titled “Ebola Virus Disease (EVD): Myths vs Facts,” amid growing concerns and online rumours linked to a regional Ebola outbreak.
According to the NCDC, Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola, but misinformation surrounding fake cures could create panic and endanger lives.
“There is currently no approved home remedy for Ebola Virus Disease,” the agency stated.
It added: “Early reporting, supportive medical care, and strict infection prevention and control measures are critical. Avoid self-medication and seek care promptly if symptoms develop.”
The agency specifically debunked widespread claims circulating on social media suggesting that “drinking salt water, consuming bitter kola, or using herbal mixtures could protect people from Ebola infection.”
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that reliance on unproven remedies during disease outbreaks often delays proper treatment and increases the risk of transmission.
The NCDC also cautioned Nigerians against spreading unverified health information online, noting that false claims could undermine public health response efforts.
“Sharing unverified information can create panic and confusion. Members of the public are advised to rely only on updates from official public health authorities and credible sources,” the advisory said.
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant despite the absence of any confirmed Ebola case in the country.
“Although no case has been confirmed in Nigeria, outbreaks in the region require vigilance, preparedness, and responsible public health behaviour to reduce the risk of importation and transmission,” it stated.
The warning has revived memories of Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola outbreak, when rumours about salt-water baths and bitter kola consumption flooded communities after the virus entered the country through an infected traveller from Liberia.
At the time, health authorities dismissed the claims after reports emerged that some Nigerians consumed excessive amounts of salt water in desperate attempts to avoid infection, leading to health complications in some cases.
Nigeria was eventually lauded globally for successfully containing the 2014 Ebola outbreak through aggressive contact tracing, rapid isolation of suspected cases, public awareness campaigns, and coordinated emergency response measures.
In its latest advisory, the NCDC urged Nigerians to prioritise preventive measures such as regular hand hygiene, avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, and promptly reporting unusual illnesses to health authorities.
The agency also reassured the public that surveillance and preparedness activities were ongoing across the country to prevent any possible outbreak.
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