Monitoring of Passengers from MV Hondius for Virus

Officials announced on Thursday that passengers from the US MV Hondius are being closely observed for a serious virus at their homes in three states.

This includes two individuals from Georgia, one from Arizona, and some residents in California, who had sailed on the cruise before the virus outbreak that has resulted in three fatalities and at least seven reported illnesses.

The Georgia Department of Public Health stated that the resident from Georgia is currently healthy, showing no symptoms, and is adhering to the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Similarly, the Arizona passenger is also symptom-free, according to the health department.

While the exact number of Californians under observation wasn’t disclosed, the state health department emphasized that the public risk is minimal.

Robert Barsanti, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health, reassured the public, noting there’s “no evidence that California residents are falling ill or contracting the virus.” He added, “Currently, the risk to California’s public health remains low.”

Updates on the Hantavirus Situation from the Cruise Ship

The MV Hondius is now en route to the Canary Islands, with both the ship’s operator and the World Health Organization anticipating that the remaining 150 passengers will soon be allowed to disembark. This came after the vessel had been stranded off the coast of Cape Verde for several days.

Recently, a 56-year-old former British police officer, a 41-year-old Dutch citizen, and a 65-year-old German were airlifted from the ship to the Netherlands for medical treatment.

Additionally, a flight attendant was hospitalized with a suspected infectious disease after contact with an elderly Dutch woman who was among those who had fallen ill on the MV Hondius and subsequently passed away.

A Swiss passenger who was on the ship’s 35-day voyage also tested positive during a stop in St. Helena, which had included at least 22 other passengers.

The hantaviruses generally spread through rodent excrement. However, a rare strain known as the Andes virus, capable of human-to-human transmission with a high fatality rate, is linked to the outbreak on Hondius, as announced by the WHO.

While experts highlight that such transmission is uncommon and requires very close contact, the situation has raised significant concern among health authorities.

Globally, including in the US, efforts are intensifying to trace individuals who had disembarked from cruise ships before the outbreak was acknowledged.