GENEVA: The World Health Organization on Thursday declared an end to the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship which sparked international alarm, after the last person left quarantine. There were 12 confirmed and one probable case stemming from the MV Hondius, including three deaths. But while the outbreak is now over, for scientists and experts, the work is only in its early stages, as they try to learn lessons from the episode that triggered a global health alert.

The disease spread to people in four countries and more than 600 people were at one point under medical surveillance.

The World Health Organization said on Thursday that the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship is over.

First reported on May 2, the outbreak stemmed from cases aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship off the coast of South America.

WHO chief says cruise ship-linked hantavirus outbreak "over"-