13.05.2026 21:10
The European Medicines Agency has issued a critical statement following the hantavirus crisis on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which resulted in loss of life. The agency announced that there is currently no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for the virus. Stating that the current response is limited to early diagnosis and supportive care, the EMA warned that vaccine development is still in its early stages. Global health authorities are on alert amid the process shaken by the deaths of three passengers.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a critical warning regarding hantavirus infections, which have made global headlines and caused fatalities aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius. The agency announced that currently there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment against the virus.
Yasmina Alcazar, an official from the EMA Press and Public Relations Unit, provided statements on the current medical situation following cases detected on the Dutch-flagged passenger ship "MV Hondius." Alcazar noted that there is no effective medication for hantavirus within the framework of the European Union, emphasizing that treatment is limited to early diagnosis and clinical supportive care.
"LACK OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND CLINICAL DATA"
Alcazar, recalling that the virus is transmitted from animals to humans, stated that the development processes for antibodies and vaccines to support the immune system are still in very early stages. The EMA official noted that there is insufficient clinical data to prove that drugs such as Favipiravir, previously used in COVID-19 treatment, are effective against hantavirus cases, warning that "antimicrobials or antivirals must be tested in laboratory settings and receive clinical approval before being used in patients."
DEATH TOLL ON LUXURY SHIP: 3 FATALITIES
The hantavirus panic erupted on the luxury passenger ship MV Hondius, which departed from the port of Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1. During the voyage, the following occurred:
On April 11, a 70-year-old Dutch passenger died.
On April 26, the symptomatic spouse of the deceased passenger passed away in Johannesburg.
On May 3, with the death of a German female passenger, the total number of fatalities on the ship rose to 3.
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially confirmed the cases while the ship was off the coast of Cape Verde (Cabo Verde).
EMA EMERGENCY TASK FORCE ON ALERT
The EMA stated that it is closely monitoring the situation through its Emergency Task Force (ETF), which manages pandemics and public health emergencies. As part of preparedness activities, it was announced that a map of companies developing drugs against viruses of the "Bunyaviricetes" class, which are transmitted particularly through rodents, has been created.
The EMA, noting ongoing coordination with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Commission, reported that it is ready to provide regulatory support to pharmaceutical companies to accelerate vaccine and treatment development processes.