Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius: three passengers have died; WHO expects more cases
13 May 10:45
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries to prepare for a possible increase in hantavirus cases following an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing The Guardian.
What happened on the cruise ship MV Hondius
The cruise ship MV Hondius, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde, found itself at the center of a hantavirus outbreak. According to the WHO, the disease has been confirmed in nine people. Among those infected are a French woman and a U.S. citizen, who were evacuated from the ship.
Three passengers on the ship died from the virus: a married couple from the Netherlands and a German citizen.
After Cape Verde refused to accept the ship, Spain allowed the MV Hondius to dock at a port in Tenerife. More than 120 passengers and crew members were evacuated during a specially organized operation.
WHO expects new cases
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that there are currently no signs of a larger outbreak beginning. At the same time, he warned that due to the long incubation period of the hantavirus, new cases may emerge in the coming weeks.
According to him, the first case on the ship was recorded as early as April 6, and before anti-epidemic measures were implemented, passengers were actively interacting with one another.
That is why the WHO expects additional cases to emerge among those who were on board.
The incubation period, according to the WHO director-general, can last six to eight weeks, so countries must closely monitor evacuated passengers and people in high-risk groups.
French woman in intensive care
Doctors in Paris reported that one of the infected passengers—a 65-year-old French citizen—has the most severe form of the disease with cardiopulmonary involvement.
According to Dr. Xavier Lescure, the patient has been placed on an artificial lung and a circulatory support system. Doctors hope this will help her overcome the critical stage of the disease.
It is also known that the woman had underlying health conditions, though doctors have not disclosed any details.
One of the evacuated Spaniards has also fallen ill
The Spanish Ministry of Health reported that one of the 14 Spanish citizens evacuated from the ship and placed in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid tested positive for hantavirus.
The patient has a low-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms. The patient’s condition is currently stable, with no signs of deterioration.
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What is known about the Andes variant
The WHO has confirmed that this is the Andes variant of the hantavirus. Hantaviruses are typically spread by wild rodents. Humans can become infected through contact with the secretions of infected animals or dust contaminated by them.
However, the Andes variant is unique in that, in rare cases, it can be transmitted from person to person through close contact.
That is why the WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine and continuous monitoring of high-risk contacts.
READ ALSO: Global Hantavirus Outbreak: Is There a Danger for Ukrainians?
Passengers were evacuated to various countries
After the evacuation from Tenerife, passengers and crew members were distributed among the countries of which they are citizens or residents.
The Netherlands reported that 26 passengers on the first evacuation flight tested negative. Two more flights brought 28 evacuees, who must also undergo quarantine.
The United Kingdom is also taking in some of the people linked to the outbreak. Specifically, 10 people from remote islands in the South Atlantic who had contact with infected individuals will be transported to the UK for self-isolation.
Medical staff quarantined in the Netherlands
At the Radboudumc hospital in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, 12 staff members were placed in quarantine after they came into contact with biological materials from a patient with hantavirus without following the necessary safety protocols.
The hospital stated that the risk of infection is very low and that medical care for patients continues uninterrupted. The quarantine for medical staff will last six weeks.
Spain accepted the ship despite objections from regional authorities
The Spanish central government allowed the MV Hondius to anchor off Tenerife and later dock briefly to evacuate passengers. This decision was made despite objections from the regional government of the Canary Islands.
The WHO Director-General thanked Spain and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for organizing the operation. He called the Spanish government’s actions an example of “compassion and solidarity.”
Has the virus mutated?
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist stated that there is currently no complete genetic sequence of the virus, so it is too early to definitively speak of a mutation.
At the same time, she said, medical experts are currently “rather reassured” and have no confirmation that the virus has mutated:
“There are things… we don’t know about this virus. We don’t yet have a complete sequence of the virus, which would allow us to say with certainty today—even though we are fairly confident at this point… that this virus has not yet mutated.”
Where is the MV Hondius now?
After refueling and restocking in Tenerife, the MV Hondius set sail back to the port of Rotterdam.
Twenty-five crew members, a doctor, and a nurse remained on board.
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