World Health Organization (WHO) Confirms Investigation into Possible Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed an investigation into a possible hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. Three people have died, while a 69-year-old British national is hospitalized in critical but stable condition in Johannesburg.
Details
According to the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the MV Hondius, the victims are a Dutch couple and a German national. The exact causes of death have not yet been determined.
The WHO has confirmed one case of hantavirus infection, that of the British patient, and is analyzing five other suspected cases. The ship, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina three weeks ago, is currently sailing off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, with 149 people on board.
Transmission and Risks
Hantavirus is a group of viral strains primarily transmitted by rodents. Human contamination typically occurs through inhalation of particles contaminated with urine, saliva, or dried droppings.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), interhuman transmission is extremely rare. The risk is highest in environments infested with rodents or during cleaning of contaminated areas without proper protection.
Symptoms and Treatment
The virus can cause two main categories of diseases: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HPS is a rare but severe infection that begins with non-specific symptoms such as fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and digestive problems. The disease can rapidly progress to respiratory distress, with a mortality rate of around 38% in severe cases.
HFRS is more common in Europe and Asia and can cause severe kidney damage, low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure.
Global Risk Assessment
The WHO's regional director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, stated that he is closely monitoring the situation with international health teams.
"Infections with hantavirus remain rare and are generally linked to direct exposure to infected rodents," he reminded, emphasizing that the virus does not easily transmit between humans.
The WHO emphasizes that the risk to the general population remains low and that no travel restrictions are justified at this stage.
According to estimates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), around 150,000 cases of hantavirus hemorrhagic fever are reported annually worldwide, primarily in China, but also in Europe and certain regions of Asia.
In the United States, 890 cases have been recorded between 1993 and 2023, since the implementation of epidemiological surveillance.
Prevention and Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus. Treatment focuses on supportive care, including respiratory assistance, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or dialysis in cases of severe kidney damage.
Health authorities recommend rapid hospitalization, particularly in intensive care units, for severe cases.
The CDC recommends reducing contact with rodents in homes and workplaces, particularly by sealing potential entry points in basements and attics.
When cleaning contaminated areas, wearing protective equipment is strongly advised to avoid inhaling infectious particles.
