Search continues worldwide for passengers who disembarked before hantavirus outbreak on liner – what is known so far
Kyiv • UNN
Three people have died due to a hantavirus outbreak on the vessel MV Hondius. The WHO is in contact with officials from at least 12 countries monitoring citizens who have returned home; five Ukrainians are on board.
Health authorities around the world are racing to find dozens of people who disembarked from a cruise ship before a hantavirus outbreak was detected, as well as everyone who has been in close contact with them since, UNN reports, citing the BBC.
Details
The World Health Organization stated that five cases, including three deaths, have now been confirmed following the outbreak on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius.
The UN health agency also stated that the outbreak is not the start of a pandemic like Covid six years ago, as this strain of hantavirus spreads through "close, intimate contact."
But given the incubation period of this disease, which can last up to six weeks, it is possible that more cases will be registered, the WHO reported.
It is reported that there were initially about 150 passengers and crew members from 28 countries on board the vessel, but dozens of people disembarked on St. Helena on April 24.
The luxury cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on April 1 in Ushuaia, Argentina, and is expected to arrive in the Canary Islands, Spain, on May 10.
Hantavirus usually spreads from rodents, with humans becoming infected by breathing in air contaminated with viral particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
The WHO is in contact with officials in at least 12 countries who are monitoring citizens who have returned home.
These countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to a BBC infographic, 5 people from Ukraine are known to be on board the vessel, and it is indicated that they are crew members.
One expert told the BBC that the response to the outbreak was "very chaotic and uncoordinated," but the overall risk to the public was negligible.
United Kingdom
Three British citizens are suspected of having hantavirus.
Seven Britons disembarked from the MV Hondius on St. Helena on April 24, before the first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on May 4, with four remaining there.
One patient is on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.
Two other Britons have confirmed cases. One is Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer who remains in stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, and the other remains in intensive care after being transported to South Africa last month.
They have no symptoms but are in contact with medical professionals. It is believed that medical personnel will be sent to the islands to provide support.
Two other UK citizens are already self-isolating at home in the UK after possible exposure. They are doing so voluntarily and have no symptoms.
USA
According to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, health authorities in five states said they are monitoring people who were on the ship: two in Georgia and Texas, one each in Arizona and Virginia, and an unspecified number in California.
According to health departments, none of these people had symptoms.
Argentina
Before boarding the cruise ship on April 1, a Dutch couple took a birdwatching trip through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, visiting locations where, according to the WHO, rat species known to carry the Andes strain of hantavirus were present.
The source of the outbreak has not been confirmed, but the Argentine government is investigating whether the infections began in the country.
Cape Verde
The MV Hondius was denied plans to dock in the West African archipelago and remained at anchor off its coast for several days before heading to the Canary Islands on Wednesday.
Cruise ship with hantavirus leaves Cape Verde and heads for the Canaries07.05.26, 09:05 • 4576 views
France
The French Ministry of Health stated it has identified eight French citizens who were in contact with a Dutch woman who died of hantavirus during her flight from St. Helena to Johannesburg.
On Thursday, the agency reported that one of these individuals showed mild symptoms and testing is pending. Others have been offered isolation and access to testing, the agency reports.
Germany
One of the deceased women was a passenger from Germany.
According to the WHO, the woman first developed a fever on April 28, followed by symptoms of pneumonia.
According to the cruise operator, her body was still on the ship.
Netherlands
Thirteen people on the ship are Dutch, including eight passengers and five crew members.
Among the three deceased so far are two Dutch citizens, a husband and wife. The woman tested positive for hantavirus and died in South Africa.
A Dutch woman was hospitalized in Amsterdam after showing possible symptoms of hantavirus infection, the country's health ministry reported on Thursday.
Dutch broadcaster RTL reported that the woman was a flight attendant for the Dutch airline KLM who had been in contact with the woman who died of hantavirus infection in Johannesburg.
However, on Friday, a WHO spokesperson told CBS News that her test for the virus came back negative.
Philippines
There are 38 people from the Philippines among the crew of the MV Hondius.
Currently, there are no registered cases of hantavirus in the country, and officials emphasize that the risk remains "extremely low."
Spain
The MV Hondius is expected to dock on the Spanish island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, over the weekend.
In total, 146 people from 23 countries remain on board the MV Hondius, which is heading to the Canary Islands, where they will undergo medical examinations before they can return home.
Spanish authorities agreed to this move, but the President of the Canary Islands opposed the plan.
"I cannot allow [the vessel] to enter the Canary Islands," Fernando Clavijo told Spanish radio Onda Cero.
"This decision is not based on any technical criteria, and we have not been provided with sufficient information," he indicated.
Meanwhile, as The Guardian writes, Spanish authorities are finalizing preparations for the arrival of the MV Hondius this weekend, stating that an "unprecedented operation" is underway to receive, assess, and repatriate the 149 passengers and crew on board the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship.
The Dutch-flagged vessel, which sailed from Argentina to Cape Verde, is scheduled to arrive in Tenerife in the Canary Islands around noon on Sunday.
Following negotiations between the Spanish government and the regional authorities of the archipelago, the MV Hondius will remain at anchor in the port of Granadilla and will not dock in Tenerife.
Upon arrival in Tenerife, if they are healthy, all non-Spanish citizens will be repatriated to their home countries, while 14 Spanish passengers will be quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid.
Tenerife residents told the BBC they are concerned about the ship's arrival and that residents "could face problems on the island."
"I don't think it's a good idea... but people need help," said one resident.
Switzerland
According to Swiss health officials and the WHO, a Swiss man who disembarked from the cruise ship on St. Helena tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus.
The man developed symptoms and underwent testing in Zurich, where he is receiving care, officials reported on Wednesday.