STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 7) told reporters that he had been briefed on hantavirus, following an outbreak on a cruise ship, and that he hoped it was very much under control.

Countries worldwide sought to prevent further spread of the hantavirus on Thursday, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone in close contact with them since.

In total, five people are confirmed to have contracted the virus, with another three suspected cases, the World Health Organization said. Hantavirus is usually spread by rodents but can in rare cases be transmitted person-to-person.

Trump was speaking during a surprise visit to inspect renovations to the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool, one of several high-profile projects the former real estate developer is pursuing across the nation’s capital as he seeks to leave a visible mark on Washington.

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'It should be fine, we hope': Trump on Hantavirus

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, WITH MEDIA / SOUNDBITE FROM TRUMP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 7, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, WITH MEDIA

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): "Have you been briefed on the virus?"

TRUMP: "Yes, I have."

REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): "Can you tell us what you learned in these briefings?"

TRUMP: "I think you're going to be told everything, and you already have. It's very much, we hope, under control. It was the ship. And I think we're going to make a full report about it tomorrow. We have a lot of people, a lot of great people are studying it. It should be fine, we hope."

REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): "...concerned it is going to spread?"

TRUMP: "I hope not. I mean, I hope not. We'll do the best we can."

3. TRUMP BEFORE MEDIA