GENEVA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected hantavirus patients have been evacuated from the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak and are being transported to the Netherlands for medical treatment, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

"In coordination with WHO, the ship's operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands, three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands," Tedros said in a post on social media platform X.

The WHO continues to work with the cruise operator to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew members, while coordinating with relevant countries to support medical follow-up and evacuations where necessary, he said.

Monitoring and follow-up measures have also been initiated for passengers still on board as well as those who have already disembarked, in cooperation with the ship operator and national health authorities, according to Tedros.

The WHO said the overall public health risk remains low at this stage.

Meanwhile, Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two infectious disease specialists are traveling from the Netherlands to board the cruise ship to provide medical support.

The specialists will remain on board after the vessel's expected departure from Cabo Verde, provided the transfer of the three suspected patients is completed successfully, the company said in a statement. An additional medical professional is already on board the vessel.

The WHO said on May 2 that passengers aboard the cruise ship Hondius had experienced severe acute respiratory illness that resulted in deaths. ■