Medical Evacuations Underway
Three passengers were evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship Wednesday, following a hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people and infected at least four others. The World Health Organization coordinated the evacuation of the German, Dutch, and British nationals to the Netherlands for medical care. The British evacuee is a crew member.
The MV Hondius has nearly 150 people on board. The cruise ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1.
Andes Strain Identified
South African authorities confirmed the presence of the Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers. The Andes strain is the only known form of the virus capable of human-to-human transmission. A Swiss man who had been a passenger on the MV Hondius also tested positive for the Andes strain after returning to Zurich.
The WHO believes that human-to-human transmission may have occurred between close contacts on board the ship. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, referenced a couple who died from suspected hantavirus cases after spending time on the MV Hondius.
Quarantine Concerns
Passengers may have to quarantine for as long as eight weeks, according to a World Health Organization official. The incubation period for hantavirus is between one and eight weeks. Ann Lindstrand, the WHO's representative in Cape Verde, said Spanish and Dutch authorities are "intensely discussing" what will happen next to the passengers on board.
Canary Islands Opposition
The Spanish government granted the cruise ship permission to dock in the Canary Islands, but the regional government opposes the decision. Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands, said the decision was not based on any technical criteria. Clavijo said he requested a meeting with the Spanish prime minister to discuss the ship.
Public Health Risk
The WHO maintains that the overall public health risk remains low. Ann Lindstrand, the WHO's representative in Cape Verde, said there is no risk of a pandemic-level threat with the hantavirus, given the low likelihood of human-to-human transmission.
The cruise ship had stopped at islands off the coast of Africa, where there are birds and rodents. The WHO is operating under the assumption that the virus came from outside of the ship. Symptoms of hantavirus typically begin with fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and headaches, followed by cough and shortness of breath.
