The risk of the hantavirus to the Jamaican population remains very low, according to local medical experts.

The reassurance by the experts comes against the background of global concerns surrounding the outbreak of the virus aboard a Dutch cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, which left three passengers dead and several others severely ill.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 13, 2026, 11 cases, including three deaths, had been linked to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.