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Glossary · Institutions

WHO

United Nations specialised agency responsible for global public health. Coordinates the international response to outbreaks via the International Health Regulations.

Also called : World Health Organization, World Health Organisation, WHO Institutions

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations specialised agency responsible for global public health. It coordinates the international response to outbreaks, including the MV Hondius hantavirus event. WHO confirmed on 7 May 2026 the possibility of person-to-person transmission and published the official risk assessment for the general population.

Overview

Mission and organisation

WHO, founded in 1948, is headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland). It has 194 member states and relies on 6 regional offices (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, Western Pacific) and about 150 country offices. Its mission includes: technical standards, global epidemiological surveillance, coordination of responses to health emergencies, and support for member states' health systems.

Governance

WHO is led by a Director-General, elected for a five-year mandate renewable once, and by the World Health Assembly where the health ministers of the 194 member states sit. Strategic decisions are made at the annual Assembly. Operational decisions on health emergencies fall to the Director-General, in liaison with an advisory emergency committee convened under the International Health Regulations.

The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)

The IHR 2005 is an international treaty legally binding on its 196 parties (194 member states + the Holy See + Liechtenstein). It obliges states to: (1) strengthen their national capacities for detection, assessment and notification; (2) notify WHO within 24 hours of any event that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern; (3) cooperate with WHO and other states for managing cross-border risks.

Public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)

The IHR allows the declaration of a PHEIC — an exceptional situation constituting a risk to the public health of other states through international spread, and requiring a coordinated international response. PHEICs historically declared include H1N1 influenza (2009), Ebola (2014, 2019), Zika (2016), COVID-19 (2020-2023), Mpox (2022, 2024). The MV Hondius event was not declared a PHEIC, as the risk to the general population was assessed as low.

Role in the MV Hondius event

Timeline

  • 3 May 2026: identification of Andes virus by PCR. WHO is notified by the Dutch authorities (flag of the vessel) and Spanish authorities (planned port of arrival).
  • 5 May 2026: Cape Verde refuses berthing. WHO coordinates with Spanish authorities the berthing authorisation at Tenerife (Granadilla de Abona).
  • 7 May 2026: WHO publishes its official assessment ("risk for the general population: low"), confirms the possibility of person-to-person transmission and recalls precautionary recommendations.
  • 10 May 2026: disembarkation at Granadilla de Abona port (Tenerife) at 06:24 local time, under WHO/ECDC coordination. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus travels on site and publishes a message to the population of Tenerife on 14 May.

Disease Outbreak News (DON 2026)

WHO publishes an official notification for this event in its Disease Outbreak News mechanism. The DON is consulted by health authorities in all member states and serves as a reference for national agencies (Santé publique France, RKI in Germany, RIVM in the Netherlands, etc.). It is updated at each significant development.

Reference sources for HantaTracker

WHO is the primary source cited on HantaTracker for all information related to the MV Hondius event: case tally, risk assessment, contact surveillance recommendations. The figures published on the home page and in the glossary are systematically referenced to a WHO release or an equivalent publication from a reference partner (ECDC, CDC, NEJM).

Key figures

  • 194

    Member states of the World Health Organization.

    WHO — About

  • 1948

    Year WHO was founded, as a United Nations specialised agency.

    WHO — History

  • Geneva

    WHO headquarters, in Switzerland, complemented by 6 regional offices and 150 country offices.

    WHO — About

  • IHR 2005

    International Health Regulations, a legally binding treaty obliging member states to report public health events of international concern.

    WHO — International Health Regulations

Standards & references

Frequently asked questions

What is WHO's role in the MV Hondius event?

WHO coordinates the international response across four areas: (1) risk assessment — WHO published its initial assessment on 7 May 2026 ("risk for the general population: low"); (2) outbreak notification through the Disease Outbreak News mechanism (DON 2026); (3) coordination of the member states involved in contact tracing (10 countries); (4) public communication and technical guidance for national health authorities.

How does WHO make decisions about outbreaks?

WHO relies on an emergency committee convened under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). This committee assesses the situation, advises the Director-General whether to declare a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC), and issues temporary recommendations. For the MV Hondius event, risk was assessed as "low" and did not warrant convening a PHEIC committee.

Can WHO impose health measures on states?

No. WHO issues recommendations, based on the IHR, but has no direct binding power over member states. They remain sovereign in deciding which measures apply on their territory. WHO's authority is primarily moral, technical and coordinating — it rests on the quality of its expertise and the voluntary cooperation of states.

Further reading