CDC Monitoring Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is keeping a close watch on a hantavirus outbreak linked to a luxury cruise ship that had American passengers on board.

Officials from the CDC announced that the State Department is coordinating efforts across the government. This includes reaching out to passengers and working with both domestic and international health agencies.

The outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship M/V Hondius has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, specifically a Dutch couple and a German national.

CDC experts are collaborating with international partners to offer guidance and assistance aimed at minimizing risks. On April 24, the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that 29 passengers, including six Americans, may have been exposed to the virus shortly after the first reported death.

Currently, the locations of these passengers remain unknown, but at least six states—Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia—are attempting to track them down.

Due to the situation, the ship was denied entry into port and left stranded in the Atlantic Ocean while two crew members were evacuated for medical care.

Reports indicate that nine individuals on the ship are confirmed or suspected cases of the virus, with three fatalities noted. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the number of confirmed cases has risen to five.

Although the CDC reassured the public that the risk to Americans is very low at this time, they advised those on the cruise to follow health authorities’ instructions for a safe return.

No hantavirus cases have been identified within the United States, and the CDC has classified the outbreak as a “Level 3” emergency response, which is the lowest tier of such responses.

Hantaviruses can lead to severe illnesses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HPS affects the lungs and can be serious, with symptoms like fatigue, fever, muscle pain, and more.

On the other hand, HFRS impacts the kidneys and can also be severe or fatal, with symptoms that may include severe headaches, abdominal pain, fever, and low blood pressure.

Typically, hantaviruses spread through contact with rodents or their waste. However, this specific outbreak appears to include an Andean variant, which is the only known hantavirus that can be transmitted between people. This has prompted passengers aboard the Hondius to self-isolate.

Officials have confirmed that the cruise ship will dock at Tenerife, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, as this situation develops.