Hantavirus Cruise Ship Rumors of Taiwanese Passengers Likely Misinformation, CDC Verifying
Regarding reports of Taiwanese passengers returning from the 'Le Commandant Charcot' cruise ship, where a deadly Hantavirus outbreak occurred, Taiwan CDC Director Lo Yi-Chun stated that the information is likely misinformation. The CDC is currently verifying facts with the WHO and the cruise company, emphasizing that the direct risk to Taiwan is low as previous cases in Taiwan were not of the Andes virus strain.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 14:43
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Central News Agency (CNA) reporter Shen Pei-yao, Taipei, May 7 – Following reports that Taiwanese passengers had returned from the cruise ship 'Le Commandant Charcot,' which experienced a deadly Hantavirus outbreak, causing public panic, Taiwan CDC Director Lo Yi-Chun stated today that based on multiple sources, the possibility of misinformation is high. The CDC is currently verifying facts with the WHO and the cruise company.
The Dutch-flagged luxury cruise ship 'Le Commandant Charcot' recently experienced a Hantavirus outbreak, leading to three deaths. The South African Ministry of Health today confirmed in a report to Parliament that two passengers tested positive for Hantavirus, specifically the 'Andes virus strain,' which can be transmitted from person to person.
Some media reported that according to a Spanish passenger on board, 23 people disembarked on Saint Helena Island earlier, including Taiwanese travelers who have since returned to Taiwan.
Responding to this rumor, Lo Yi-Chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control, stated today via text message that regarding foreign reports citing a cruise ship passenger's revelation that "Taiwanese people have returned to Taiwan," the CDC, based on comprehensive information from multiple channels and the passenger nationality list released by the cruise company, preliminarily assesses that the possibility of misinformation is higher.
Lo Yi-Chun stated that the CDC had already sought verification from the World Health Organization (WHO) this morning through its International Health Regulations contact point and is awaiting WHO's response. Concurrently, it is also verifying facts with the cruise company through various channels and will report to the public once a response is received.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui told the media that given the outbreak is limited to a single international cruise ship and a small number of imported cases after disembarkation, and as Taiwan does not have the long-tailed field rat, the animal host for the Andes virus, the direct import risk to Taiwan is assessed as low, and the domestic risk is low.
Furthermore, according to current data held by the CDC, there are a total of 147 people on board, including 86 passengers and 61 crew members. Passengers and crew come from 23 countries, namely Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Japan, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
"Currently, there is no need to raise the travel health advisory," Tseng Shu-hui emphasized. However, the CDC has formed a special task force to continuously monitor this incident and adjust prevention and control measures in accordance with WHO and international recommendations.
Taiwan CDC explained that all indigenous and imported Hantavirus cases in Taiwan over the years have been of the less severe, lower mortality 'Seoul virus' type, and the Andes virus involved in this cruise ship incident has never been detected. Previously, there were only two imported cases: one from China in 2007 and one from Indonesia in 2019, with no imported cases from South America ever recorded.
Taiwan CDC stated that it will continue to closely monitor epidemic developments, strengthen publicity to remind people traveling to South America not to contact rodents, and reduce the threat of imported cases from South America, asking the public to rest assured. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150507
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The Dutch-flagged luxury cruise ship 'Le Commandant Charcot' recently experienced a Hantavirus outbreak, leading to three deaths. The South African Ministry of Health today confirmed in a report to Parliament that two passengers tested positive for Hantavirus, specifically the 'Andes virus strain,' which can be transmitted from person to person.
Some media reported that according to a Spanish passenger on board, 23 people disembarked on Saint Helena Island earlier, including Taiwanese travelers who have since returned to Taiwan.
Responding to this rumor, Lo Yi-Chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control, stated today via text message that regarding foreign reports citing a cruise ship passenger's revelation that "Taiwanese people have returned to Taiwan," the CDC, based on comprehensive information from multiple channels and the passenger nationality list released by the cruise company, preliminarily assesses that the possibility of misinformation is higher.
Lo Yi-Chun stated that the CDC had already sought verification from the World Health Organization (WHO) this morning through its International Health Regulations contact point and is awaiting WHO's response. Concurrently, it is also verifying facts with the cruise company through various channels and will report to the public once a response is received.
CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui told the media that given the outbreak is limited to a single international cruise ship and a small number of imported cases after disembarkation, and as Taiwan does not have the long-tailed field rat, the animal host for the Andes virus, the direct import risk to Taiwan is assessed as low, and the domestic risk is low.
Furthermore, according to current data held by the CDC, there are a total of 147 people on board, including 86 passengers and 61 crew members. Passengers and crew come from 23 countries, namely Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Japan, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
"Currently, there is no need to raise the travel health advisory," Tseng Shu-hui emphasized. However, the CDC has formed a special task force to continuously monitor this incident and adjust prevention and control measures in accordance with WHO and international recommendations.
Taiwan CDC explained that all indigenous and imported Hantavirus cases in Taiwan over the years have been of the less severe, lower mortality 'Seoul virus' type, and the Andes virus involved in this cruise ship incident has never been detected. Previously, there were only two imported cases: one from China in 2007 and one from Indonesia in 2019, with no imported cases from South America ever recorded.
Taiwan CDC stated that it will continue to closely monitor epidemic developments, strengthen publicity to remind people traveling to South America not to contact rodents, and reduce the threat of imported cases from South America, asking the public to rest assured. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150507
Stand with the facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the CNA "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and audio/video content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.