The World Health Organization has warned that additional hantavirus infections could emerge following an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean that has already claimed three lives. However, the agency stressed that it does not expect the situation to develop into a large-scale epidemic if countries continue implementing public health measures.
The outbreak has drawn international attention after several passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius were infected with the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, a virus capable of limited human-to-human transmission. The ship, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1, became the centre of concern after multiple passengers fell ill during the voyage.
According to the WHO, five confirmed cases and three suspected cases have been identified so far, including the three fatalities. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation was closely monitoring the situation due to the virus’s incubation period, which can extend up to six weeks.
“The possibility remains that more cases may be reported,” Tedros said during a media briefing, referring to the Andes variant detected on board.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease spread primarily through contact with infected rodents, their saliva, urine or droppings. The virus can trigger severe respiratory and kidney-related illnesses in humans and, in some cases, prove fatal.
The WHO says there is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available for hantavirus infections. Medical management largely depends on supportive care, including close monitoring of respiratory, cardiac and renal complications.
Symptoms generally appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and commonly include fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort.
Health experts emphasised that the Andes strain behaves differently from viruses such as Covid-19 or influenza. WHO infectious disease expert Maria Van Kerkhove noted that transmission requires prolonged close contact and does not spread as rapidly as airborne respiratory viruses.
Cruise Ship Under Scrutiny
Health authorities believe one passenger may have boarded the ship already infected before transmitting the virus to others during the Atlantic crossing. Among the first reported deaths were a Dutch couple who had reportedly travelled through South America before joining the cruise.
A German passenger later died on May 2, with reports indicating that her body remains aboard the vessel.
Several passengers have since been evacuated for treatment and observation. On Wednesday, three individuals were removed from the ship near Cape Verde, while another patient arrived in Amsterdam a day later.
The ship’s operator said no additional passengers currently onboard were showing symptoms. The vessel is now heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands and is expected to arrive there on Sunday.
Authorities are also attempting to trace all passengers and crew members who boarded or disembarked from the vessel since March 20. Twenty-nine passengers reportedly left the ship earlier at Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.
The WHO has informed at least 12 countries whose citizens may have been exposed after leaving the cruise ship.
WHO Says Risk Remains Contained
Abdirahman Sheikh Mahamud, who oversees emergency alert and response operations at the WHO, said the agency was dealing with “a cluster in a confined space with close contact”.
Health officials said current evidence suggests the outbreak can likely be contained through isolation, monitoring and contact tracing measures already underway in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa.
Meanwhile, authorities in Argentina said they were still unable to determine the original source of the outbreak. Officials are expected to conduct rodent testing in Ushuaia, the Argentine port city from where the cruise departed.
Despite concerns surrounding the outbreak, WHO officials reiterated that the virus does not spread easily among the general population, reducing the likelihood of a widespread international health emergency.
Social Footer