Five of the eight cases reported from the cruise ship MV Hondius were confirmed as hantavirus infection, and the virus involved is the Andes virus, said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.
The outbreak aboard the cruise ship has infected eight people and resulted in three deaths, Tedros told a press conference.
"So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths. Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as hantavirus, and the other three are suspected," he said.
The virus involved is the Andes virus, according to Tedros.
"The species of hantavirus involved in this case is the Andes virus -- which is found in Latin America and is the only species known to be capable of limited transmission between humans," he said.
The Andes virus, a rare hantavirus found mainly in South America, is a rodent-borne virus capable of limited human-to-human transmission. Previous outbreaks showed transmission typically occurred through close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members and healthcare workers.
Tedros noted that given the incubation period for the Andes virus, which can be up to six weeks, "it's possible that more cases may be reported."
But he stressed that, "While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low."
The ship is currently sailing for the Canary Islands. Passengers abroad have been asked to remain in their cabins while being disinfected. Anyone who develops symptoms will be isolated immediately.
The director-general noted that the WHO is aware of reports of other people with symptoms who may have had contact with one of the passengers, and each case remains in close contact with the relevant authorities.
"Our priorities are to ensure the affected patients receive care, that the remaining passengers on the ship are kept safe and treated with dignity, and to prevent any further spread of the virus," he said.
Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship involves Andes virus: WHO
China is expected to add around 300 gigawatts of new wind and solar power capacity in 2026, with renewables continuing to drive the country’s green and low-carbon energy transition, according to the China Renewable Energy Development Report released on Friday.
The report shows that China’s newly installed renewable power generation capacity reached another record high in 2025, accounting for more than 60 percent of global additions.
The country’s total installed renewable energy capacity surpassed 2,337 gigawatts in 2025, while renewables accounted for 82.7 percent of newly installed power capacity, according to the report.
Newly installed distributed solar photovoltaic capacity exceeded 100 gigawatts for the second straight year, accompanied by marked improvements in regional power grid absorption and clean energy utilization.
China's electricity generation from renewable sources reached about 4,000 terawatt-hours. Both wind and photovoltaic power generation crossed the 1,000 terawatt-hours threshold, each contributing more than 10 percent to the country's total power output.
"In 2025, wind and solar power installations achieved leapfrog growth, with the cumulative installed capacity of wind and solar power historically surpassing that of thermal power, further accelerating the pace of power structure transformation. New business forms such as zero-carbon industrial parks, green power direct supply, wind-solar hydrogen production, and photovoltaic-based desert control accelerated their popularization, as clean energy gradually permeated various sectors of the economy and society," said Yi Yuechun, general manager of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.
This year, China's new energy sector will continue following the core path that combines onshore and offshore development, centralized and distributed projects, multiple energy sources working together, and integrated growth. The country will accelerate the construction of renewable energy bases in deserts, the Gobi and other arid areas, while coordinating ecological governance. Offshore wind power projects will also be pushed forward in an orderly manner.
In addition to the expected growth in wind and solar power, China is planning to add more than 50 gigawatts of new grid-connected energy storage capacity in 2026.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will prioritize the commencement of a series of deep-sea offshore wind power projects, steadily advance major hydropower projects, actively and orderly develop pumped storage hydropower, and accelerate the planning and construction of integrated wind-solar-hydro power bases along major river basins. The green electricity market will continue to be cultivated and expanded. By 2035, the share of non-fossil energy in China's total primary energy consumption is targeted to reach more than 30 percent, with the combined installed capacity of wind and solar power striving to reach 3,600 gigawatts," said Liu Deshun, chief engineer of the National Energy Administration.
China to add 300 GW of wind, solar power capacity in 2026: report
