This month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced an alert for 12 countries due to a breakout of hantavirus caused by the cruise ship MV Hondius. The WHO has alerted Health Authorities throughout Europe, North America, and Asia to assist in tracing those who could be medically affected by exposure.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-operated polar cruise ship, has already been connected to at least five confirmed cases and three deaths and a number of additional suspected cases are undergoing observation.
Cruise Ship was the Source of the Hantavirus Outbreak
The MV Hondius was the scene of the outbreak. It departed from Ushuaia Argentina for a cruise around Antarctica and the South Atlantic in April. Reports indicate that some of the passengers left the vessel in Saint Helena prior to the official identification of the outbreak creating complications in the contact traceability of passengers from the cruise.
There are concerns that passengers who had been exposed to the virus may have travelled internationally before being placed in isolation. Following these concerns, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has now informed the twelve nations of the passengers’ travels associated with the MV Hondius. Countries that include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Switzerland and Denmark are now monitoring for returned passengers and individuals to whom the returned passengers were in close contact.
Death Toll and Confirmed Cases
As a result of the outbreak, there are currently reports of three deaths, two of which were Dutch and one of which was German. According to health authorities, numerous passengers who developed respiratory illnesses connected to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is an infrequent disease that can be fatal.
Medical professionals onboard the ship separated those that exhibited symptoms from the rest of the passengers, and coordination efforts took place between international agencies to either evacuate or test the symptomatic individuals at a laboratory. WHO authorities are reporting that five out of the eight cases they tested for hantavirus infection have returned positive results.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a category of viruses that are primarily transferred to humans from infected rodents. This can happen through direct contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of an infected rodent, or through inhaling aerosolized particles that have been contaminated with them.
There are many types of hantaviruses, and most of them do not spread between humans very well; however, the outbreak appears to be associated with a second hantavirus, the Andes virus, which is the only hantavirus known to be capable of spreading to other humans relatively easily. This fact is raising global alarms.
Symptoms generally start with fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue; then, there will be increased difficulty breathing. The incubation period for Hantavirus can last as long as six weeks, making prevention through isolation and monitoring very important.
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WHO Says “Not Another COVID-19”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the outbreak should not be compared to the outbreak of COVID-19 because of the lower ability of the virus to spread, and that it typically needs prolonged close contact in order to spread. However, WHO has urged countries to take precautions due to the global movement of people before the discovery of the outbreak.
WHO representatives are working with national governments to develop diagnostic tests and quarantine procedures for all potential contacts of the virus and to analyze how the virus may have spread from the original source to other people in different countries.
Tracking Down Travellers Who Left the Ship
Many countries are attempting to track down and contact passengers who travelled by ship around the world. Passengers who were aboard this ship may have travelled home through one of the main hubs before the health warnings were issued.
Multiple states in the U.S. are tracking returning passengers, and the British government has advised those who were aboard the ship to self-isolate if they develop symptoms. Spain is currently implementing strict procedures for quarantine on the way to the Canary Islands.
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Investigation Into Source of Infection
The origin of the outbreak is under investigation in relation to excursions in southern Argentina, an area with a know history of Andes virus activity. Experts believe that a means of exposure may have taken place through birdwatching or wilderness activities in areas where they have encountered infected rodents.
Testing of the environment and monitoring of rodents is now being performed to identify the exact cause of the contamination. Along with this work, researchers are working to determine if conditions on the ship contributed to the spread of the virus.
India Is Watching Developments
There have been no reported confirmed cases of the virus in India; however, health officials will continue to monitor the situation. If the outbreak continues to develop further, upgrades to international travel surveillance systems would be considered.
