Hantavirus Cases Linked to Cruise Ship: Update from WHO
JOHANNESBURG — The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that three individuals suspected of having hantavirus have been evacuated from a cruise ship and are en route to the Netherlands. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, stated that the agency is collaborating with the operators of the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius to monitor the health of everyone onboard closely.
He noted in a post on X that, for now, the public health risk remains low.
Status of the MV Hondius
The cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, with about 150 people on board. Authorities indicated that the ship is awaiting permission to head to Spain’s Canary Islands. A strain of the hantavirus, which can occasionally be transmitted between people, has been identified in three cases by health officials in South Africa and Switzerland.
According to Swiss authorities, a man who recently traveled from South America and was on the vessel has tested positive and is under treatment.
Tragically, three passengers have died, and at least five others have fallen ill after exposure to hantavirus, typically spread through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings. There are currently three confirmed cases.
The MV Hondius departed from Argentina on April 1, originally scheduled to visit Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other locales. However, the itinerary might have to adjust due to the current situation.
The Spanish Health Ministry confirmed that it would accept the vessel in the Canary Islands following a request from the WHO and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. For the moment, the ship remains stranded off Cape Verde, with passengers isolating in their cabins.
Identifying the Andes Virus
Health officials in South Africa confirmed the discovery of the Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers onboard the MV Hondius. The Andes virus, primarily found in South America, can spread between individuals, although this is uncommon and typically occurs only through close contact.
The South African Department of Health released a report indicating that these findings arose from tests conducted after the passengers disembarked and were transported to South Africa. One patient, a British man, is currently in intensive care, while another passenger’s test was conducted posthumously after her death.
Infections in Switzerland
A statement from Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health mentioned that a man who traveled on the same cruise has been diagnosed with the Andes virus. He returned from South America at the end of April, and after developing symptoms, he sought medical advice and was isolated at the University Hospital Zurich. His wife is self-isolating but has displayed no symptoms.
The health office reassured the public, stating that there’s no ongoing risk to the general population in Switzerland.
Awaiting Evacuation
The MV Hondius is expected to receive clearance to dock in the Canary Islands as it waits off the coast for the third day, preparing for the evacuation of passengers requiring medical attention. However, concerns have been raised by the regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, who expressed his worries about the potential risks to local residents and called for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister of Spain.
Medical evacuation teams were on standby on Wednesday morning in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Observers noted that a boat approached the ship on Tuesday night but retreated shortly thereafter, leaving questions about the situation unanswered.
