In a worrying development, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that there is evidence suggesting rare human-to-human transmission of the hantavirus aboard a cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde. This outbreak has resulted in three fatalities, including two deaths on board and a third shortly after disembarking. Epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove stated at a press conference, “We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that’s happening among the really close contacts [on board].” The ship, which was on a polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, has approximately 150 individuals aboard, including passengers and crew.
The Spanish government has agreed to allow the MV Hondius to dock at the Canary Islands for a comprehensive investigation and disinfection, following initial refusals from Cape Verde due to public health concerns. The ship had been awaiting assistance while the Spanish Ministry of Health prepared to conduct a thorough review of the situation onboard. The ministry emphasized the necessity of assessing the health of passengers, identifying potential cases, and determining the next steps regarding repatriation and the ship’s future route.
As of now, alongside the three confirmed deaths, there are four other suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus, including a British national who was evacuated to South Africa and is currently in intensive care. The hantavirus is primarily known to spread through contact with rodents or their excretions, but the WHO has highlighted that the Andes strain may occasionally transmit between humans, particularly among those in close quarters.
Ann Lindstrand, the WHO’s representative in Cape Verde, reassured that while the situation is serious, there is no current risk of a pandemic-level threat. She indicated that the passengers may face a quarantine lasting up to eight weeks, given the virus’s incubation period. Lindstrand noted that health authorities in Spain and the Netherlands are in discussions about the next steps for the passengers, who have been advised to stay in their cabins as much as possible. She communicated with a volunteer doctor on board who reported that passengers are coping well under the circumstances but are understandably anxious about their future.
The WHO is conducting a full public health risk assessment in collaboration with local authorities and the cruise line, Oceanwide Expeditions. Detailed investigations are ongoing, including laboratory testing and epidemiological tracing. The organization has also begun tracking individuals who may have shared flights with the deceased passengers, particularly focusing on a 69-year-old Dutch woman who exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms before her death shortly after leaving the ship.
Health officials in Argentina confirmed that no passengers exhibited symptoms of hantavirus when the MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia on April 1. However, as symptoms can take up to eight weeks to manifest, there is a possibility that some passengers may have been incubating the virus prior to boarding. This raises concerns, as Argentina has seen outbreaks of hantavirus in other provinces, leading to multiple fatalities last year.
Among the remaining passengers on the ship, there are 87 individuals, including 17 Americans, 19 British nationals, and 13 Spaniards, along with a crew of 61. The ship has a capacity of 170 passengers and typically includes a doctor among its crew. Oceanwide Expeditions offers extended cruises, including the 33-night or 43-night “Atlantic Odyssey” voyages that the MV Hondius is currently undertaking.
As investigations continue, the health and safety of the passengers and crew remain the top priority. The situation is evolving, and further updates from health authorities and the WHO are anticipated as they work to contain the outbreak and ensure proper medical care and support for those affected.
Source: CBS News
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