Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know

A recent outbreak of hantavirus, a rare illness carried by rodents, on a cruise ship has drawn some comparisons to the early days of COVID-19. However, experts in infectious diseases and public health indicate that the public risk remains very low in this situation.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated that this outbreak is distinct from the COVID pandemic and reassured the public, emphasizing that the risk is low and there’s no reason for widespread concern.

Currently, there are at least ten confirmed or suspected cases linked to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, which includes three fatalities. Monitoring is ongoing for a group of 18 American passengers who returned home early this week.

Infectious disease experts highlight significant differences between hantavirus and the virus that caused COVID-19. Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical correspondent for CBS News, compared the two by saying that COVID-19 was akin to conditions that promote wildfires, while hantavirus is more like a wet log that won’t easily ignite. In her view, the properties of hantavirus make it less likely to cause a wide epidemic.

Key Differences in Transmission

As Gounder elaborated, COVID-19 was a completely new virus, making it challenging as we learned about it in real time. In contrast, hantavirus has been around for decades, and scientists understand its transmission better. It primarily infects the lungs rather than the upper respiratory tract, which makes airborne transmission less likely.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents in dry areas, and the specific strain involved in this outbreak, the Andes virus, can occasionally be transmitted between humans. It has been detected in regions where a couple traveled before boarding the ship in Ushuaia, Argentina.

Maria Van Kerkhove from the WHO stressed, “This is not COVID. This is not the flu.” She emphasized that prolonged physical contact is necessary for hantavirus to spread, unlike COVID, which can be airborne.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the likelihood of a pandemic resulting from this outbreak is extremely low. They specify that transmission usually occurs among individuals who have close contact with symptomatic persons, such as through direct interactions or close, enclosed settings.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb commented on a recent program that the hantavirus outbreak won’t spread like COVID, given its less efficient transmission. Similarly, Admiral Brian Christine from the Department of Health and Human Services reaffirmed that the overall risk to the general public is very low.

Understanding the Incubation Period

Health experts have noted that the incubation period for the Andes virus can vary from two to six weeks. This means symptoms may not appear for some time after exposure, offering health officials more time to respond effectively to the outbreak. Gounder remarked that this longer period is an advantage, allowing for a better coordinated response.

Passengers who were repatriated recently are nearing the end of their potential transmission window, according to Gottlieb, which is good news for them and the broader public health situation.