The World Health Organization is investigating a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that has resulted in three deaths. The initial cases likely contracted before boarding the MV Hondius, which originated in Argentina.
Key facts:
- A hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship has killed three people and sickened others.
- Seven of the 147 passengers and crew have been reported ill, including two confirmed and five suspected cases.
- The illness can start with flu-like symptoms and rapidly progress to become life-threatening.
- The WHO assessed the overall risk to the public as low.
Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO stated, “Our assumption is that they were infected off the ship.” She confirmed that one case tested positive for hantavirus. Hantaviruses are carried by rodents and can cause severe illness in humans, but human-to-human transmission is rare.
Officials reported that two patients are being prepared for medical evacuation, while one remains in intensive care. Passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins as disinfection measures are carried out. The ship is expected to proceed to the Canary Islands after evacuating infected patients.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has a fatality rate of about 35%. In contrast, gastrointestinal outbreaks caused by norovirus affected 23 cruise ships last year, with 18 of those outbreaks specifically attributed to norovirus. This highlights ongoing public health challenges within the cruise industry.
The exact virus causing this outbreak is still being sequenced, and whether there is any significant human-to-human transmission is under investigation. Meanwhile, experts continue to monitor the situation closely.