WHO reports 10 hantavirus cases, 3 deaths, tied to cruise ship

May 15 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization said Friday there have been 10 hantavirus cases reported from the MV Hondius cruise ship and three people have died.

The WHO held a press conference to share an update on the hantavirus outbreak Friday, days after passengers of the cruise ship disembarked to return to their home countries under quarantine. It previously reported 11 cases but that number was revised down to 10.

One American who recently had an inconclusive test has tested negative, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, director of the WHO's Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Management.

"As of today a total of 10 cases, including three deaths, have been reported to WHO, including eight people who were laboratory confirmed for Andes virus infection and two probable," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said during Friday's press conference.

Related

• France holds 1,000+ on cruise ship with suspected norovirus outbreak
• WHO: No sign of further spread of hantavirus from cruise ship outbreak
• Britain airlifts hantavirus patients from remote South Atlantic islands

Forty-one people are being monitored for the hantavirus in the United States. Most U.S. passengers were transported from the ship to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where they were being monitored in a specially designed medical facility.

Stephen Kornfeld is the only American to test positive for hantavirus. He had flu-like symptoms while aboard the cruise ship and was admitted to the facility in Nebraska. He has since tested negative and has been moved into the facility's quarantine unit.

"I physically feel great. I have felt great for many, many days," he told ABC News.

On Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a press briefing on its response to the hantavirus. Dr. David Fitter, incident manager for CDC's hantavirus response, said the risk to the general public is "low."

"Testing is recommended only for those with symptoms, and decisions are guided by the best available evidence," Fitter said.

Fitter said the monitoring period for the U.S. passengers is 42 days. He noted that there were passengers who left the ship and returned home before the outbreak and they have been identified.

"Some of these people are at home monitoring their health in close coordination with their state and local health departments, with CDC supporting those efforts," Fitter said.