Hantavirus outbreak on M.V. Hondius leaves three dead, seven infected and WHO monitoring the cruise ship case as global risk stays low.
Hantavirus outbreak fears have grown after three people died on board the cruise ship M.V. Hondius while it was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the World Health Organization, seven people on the vessel have contracted the virus, while one patient remains in critical condition. The ship, which began its journey from Argentina on April 1, has since come under close international health monitoring.
Authorities suspect the virus may have been brought onto the Dutch-flagged ship by a Dutch couple who had gone birdwatching in Ushuaia, Argentina. They are believed to have contracted the disease from infected rodents at a waste disposal site in the area.
The virus spreads to humans through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The strain identified in this case is the “Andes variant,” which is commonly found in Argentina and Chile.
A key concern is that this variant is known as the only Hantavirus strain capable of spreading from person to person. The fatality rate among infected patients can reportedly reach as high as 40 percent.
The main symptoms include fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, it can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and heart failure.
So far, no specific vaccine or curative treatment has been found for Hantavirus. Medical care currently depends on hospitalization and managing symptoms as the illness develops.
The ship has now been allowed to sail to the Canary Islands. Critically ill patients were taken ashore in Cape Verde before being transferred to the Netherlands for further treatment.
There are 149 people on board, including passengers and crew. Those who have not shown symptoms are expected to be sent back to their home countries after the ship docks.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that because this virus does not spread as rapidly as COVID-19, the current risk to the world remains low.
