The number of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship at the center of an outbreak has increased to 13, the head of the World Health Organization(WHO) said on Wednesday.
"Spain reported a new case among the passengers who are in quarantine, which brings the total number of cases to 13," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X.
There are no new deaths reported since May 2,the total number of deaths remains three out of 13 reported cases so far, Tedros said.
"The situation remains stable. Passengers who got sick are receiving needed care, while others remain in quarantine," Tedros added, noting that WHO is in close contact with all the relevant governments.
Previously, a hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius raised fears. However, WHO has said that the overall risk to the public remains low, and has recommended 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.
The cruise ship's operator, the Oceanwide Expeditions, said on Wednesday that, following advice from Dutch health authorities, the vessel will delay its return to the home port of Vlissingen and will remain docked in Rotterdam for further cleaning and disinfection, in order to resume operations later.
The company said the cruise ship plans to resume operations and carry out scheduled voyages starting from June 13.
Number of hantavirus cases from cruise outbreak rises to 13: WHO
Number of hantavirus cases from cruise outbreak rises to 13: WHO
Building on the legacy of the Long March, a landmark event in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has transformed its historic wartime grounds into a thriving hub of modern agriculture and green tourism, showcasing how the resilient spirit of the past continues to drive rural revitalization today.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March, a crucial turning point in Chinese history that contributed to the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In the special series Marching On, China Global Television Network (CGTN) correspondents are retracting the original route of the Long March across several provinces to show how the enduring spirit of determination and resilience continues to inspire generations of Chinese people as they pursue better lives through innovation and hard work.
In the third episode of the series, a CGTN correspondent travels to Shaanxi, where the Red Army finally concluded its epic journey and established a revolutionary base.
The episode highlights Nanniwan, an area once known in the early 1940s as a barely inhabited marshland and overgrown wilderness cut off by economic blockades. Facing extreme adversity, the 359th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army -- veterans of the Long March -- embarked on a legendary production campaign, turning the barren soil into bountiful farmland.
Today, that same pioneering spirit lives on through advanced technology and modern agricultural drive. Local farmers and agricultural experts have achieved full mechanization by utilizing automated water-and-fertilizer integration systems, pesticide-distributing drones, and high-yield greenhouses. This modernization has driven a steady rise in Nanniwan's annual grain output, while providing dependable income boosts for surrounding communities and demonstrating how the enduring legacy of the Long March remains alive in contemporary China's pursuit of a high-quality green economy.
The Red Army soldiers, forerunners of today's People's Liberation Army, began their strategic retreat in 1934. They endured raging rivers, snow-capped mountains, and vast grasslands -- some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers -- before reaching Yan'an in Shaanxi Province in 1936, where they established the CPC headquarters ahead of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
From barren to bountiful: exploring golden fields in Shaanxi's Nanniwan
