Health officials worldwide are investigating a hantavirus outbreak related to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship M/V Hondius, which is en route to Spain’s Canary Islands. The outbreak has resulted in at least eight confirmed or suspected infections and three deaths, raising concerns about the rare virus’s spread among passengers and crew.
Confirmed Cases and Fatalities
The outbreak centers on the Andes virus strain of hantavirus, noted for its capacity for person-to-person transmission through prolonged close contact. The first known case is believed to be a 70-year-old Dutch man who died aboard the ship on April 11 after developing symptoms on April 6. His illness was initially misdiagnosed due to symptom overlap with other respiratory diseases, and no hantavirus tests were conducted at the time.
The man’s 69-year-old wife, who disembarked at Saint Helena on April 24, died two days later in South Africa following deterioration during a flight to Johannesburg. Her blood tested positive for the Andes virus. Prior to boarding the cruise on April 1, the couple had traveled through South American countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay—regions known for the rodent carrier of the Andes virus.
Additional cases include a British man who showed respiratory symptoms on April 24 while still on the cruise ship and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where tests confirmed Andes virus infection. He remains hospitalized but is reported to be improving. A German woman developed symptoms on April 28 and died aboard the ship on May 2.
Three others were evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment, including a symptomatic Dutch passenger and a British crew member, both in serious but stable condition. A German passenger evacuated with them showed no symptoms but had close contact with the deceased German woman and has since returned home.
Swiss health officials reported that a Swiss man who disembarked at Saint Helena tested positive for the Andes virus. He is currently receiving care in Zurich, and his asymptomatic wife is self-isolating as a precaution.
International Response and Monitoring
The World Health Organization (WHO) has coordinated contact tracing and isolation protocols across multiple countries with citizens who disembarked from the ship. At least 12 countries, including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others, are actively monitoring their citizens.
In the United States, health authorities in five states—Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Virginia, and California—are tracking individuals who were on the M/V Hondius. None have reported symptoms to date.
The French Ministry of Health identified eight French nationals who had contact with the deceased Dutch woman during her flight. Among them, one person has mild symptoms pending diagnostic confirmation, while others are offered testing and isolation options.
The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that no one currently aboard the Hondius is exhibiting hantavirus symptoms.
Why it matters
The hantavirus outbreak on the M/V Hondius is significant because the Andes virus is one of the few hantavirus strains known to spread between humans, primarily through close contact. The prolonged incubation period and potential for severe respiratory symptoms necessitate vigilance to prevent further transmissions. The global tracking and isolation efforts aim to contain the spread as passengers have returned to various countries.
Background
Hantaviruses are typically transmitted from rodent hosts to humans via exposure to contaminated waste or saliva and rarely spread between people. Symptoms often include severe pulmonary and respiratory distress. The Andes virus, endemic to parts of South America, is notable for its rare capability of human-to-human transmission, usually through close, prolonged contact.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
Read more World News stories on Goka World News.