The head of the World Health Organization, Tentros Adanom Gebreyesus, stated on Tuesday that “our work is not done” in containing the hantavirus, following the evacuations from a Dutch cruise ship where fatal cases were reported.

The issue sparked an international alert after the deaths of three passengers in an outbreak of the rare virus, for which there are no vaccines or specific treatments.

Health officials have emphasized that the global public health risk is low and have rejected comparisons to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There is no indication that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” said the WHO Director-General at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, after overseeing the evacuation of passengers in the Canary Islands.

“Of course, the situation could change, and given the virus’s long incubation period, it is likely that we will see more cases in the coming weeks,” said Tedros Ghebreyesus regarding the Andean variant, which is transmitted between people.

Seven cases have been confirmed among passengers and crew, and an eighth is reported as “probable.”

The passengers who tested positive are from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

More than 120 passengers and crew members on the MV Hondius departed from the Canary Islands in Spain on Sunday and Monday, and the countries have adopted different health measures for those being repatriated.

Most have followed WHO guidelines, which include a 42-day quarantine and continuous monitoring of high-risk contacts, because the incubation period can last up to six weeks.

Gebreyesus said he hopes countries will “follow the advice and recommendations,” acknowledging that states are free to decide on their own health protocols.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called on Tuesday for “closer coordination” on health protocols within the European Union.

Cape Verde refused to accept the ship, which remained anchored off the coast of the capital, Praia, as three people were flown to Europe last week.

Spain allowed the ship to anchor off the Canary Islands to disembark passengers and crew on Sunday and Monday, but the regional government of the Atlantic archipelago strongly opposed the measure.

Defending his government’s policy, Prime Minister Sánchez stated that what is needed are countries that show solidarity and are willing to take a step forward.

The MV Hondius departed from the island of Tenerife with a minimal crew on Monday and will undergo a disinfection process upon its arrival in the Netherlands on Sunday.

The virus is transmitted through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents and is endemic to Argentina, where the MV Hondius set sail on April 1 for a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde.