Hantavirus Suspected in Deaths of Three People on Cruise Ship

Three deaths reported on cruise ship amid suspected hantavirus outbreak

A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus has occurred on board the MV Hondius, a Netherlands-based cruise ship currently anchored off Cape Verde. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three people have died and three others are ill, with one confirmed case in South Africa.

The WHO stated that detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also underway.

The hantavirus is a family of viruses that cause two illnesses: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The first type primarily affects the lungs, while the second attacks the kidneys. Authorities have not confirmed which illness has spread on the cruise ship, but it is believed to be the pulmonary hantavirus.

The virus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their materials, such as urine, saliva, or droppings. When these materials become airborne, humans can become infected by inhaling the contaminated particles. Direct transmission between people is rare.

The WHO has stated that the risk posed by the hantavirus to the wider public remains low. The organization is facilitating coordination between countries to evacuate passengers showing symptoms and providing medical care and support to those affected.

The MV Hondius was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde when the outbreak occurred. The ship’s current destination is being considered for disembarkation.

Source: Al Jazeera