A cruise ship operating in the South Atlantic has become the center of a hantavirus outbreak, marking the first time the World Health Organization has documented such a disease cluster on a vessel. Three patients were evacuated Wednesday from the MV Hondius at Cape Verde, including confirmed cases identified through laboratory testing in Senegal. Two patients were transported to hospitals in Europe, while authorities continue monitoring the remaining nearly 150 passengers and crew members who remain aboard the ship in cabin isolation.
The outbreak has resulted in three confirmed deaths, with investigations suggesting that a Dutch couple may have contracted the Andes virus variant while on a bird-watching excursion in Ushuaia before boarding the ship on April 1. The couple reportedly visited a landfill during their tour, where they may have encountered infected rodents. The ship’s itinerary included stops across remote South Atlantic locations, including Antarctica, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, and St. Helena.
Authorities across multiple continents are conducting contact tracing efforts, as some passengers and crew members have dispersed to various countries. Swiss health officials are treating one former passenger at a Zurich hospital, while South African authorities documented two additional cases among passengers who disembarked there. British health officials have identified two passengers who flew home earlier and are self-isolating, along with a small number of their contacts, though none are currently showing symptoms.
Hantavirus typically spreads through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings, though person-to-person transmission can occur rarely through close contact. The World Health Organization’s top epidemic expert characterized hantavirus as a serious infectious disease but stated that public risk remains low. The ship is expected to arrive at Spain’s Canary Islands in three to four days. Spanish health authorities have indicated the arrival poses no public health risk, though regional leadership has expressed concerns and requested meetings with national officials.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI