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Two hantavirus cases confirmed, five more suspected on stranded cruise ship
TL;DR
Two confirmed hantavirus cases and five suspected cases have emerged on a cruise ship near Cape Verde, according to the WHO. Three people have died, and 147 passengers and crew remain stranded on the MV Hondius.
Key points
- Two confirmed hantavirus cases on a cruise ship
- Five suspected cases reported by WHO
- Three fatalities among the infected individuals
- 147 passengers and crew stranded on MV Hondius
- Passengers mainly from Britain, the US, and Spain
Mentioned in this story
World Health OrganizationCape VerdeAscensionSouth Africa
MV Hondius
Two cases of the deadly hantavirus have been confirmed, and five are suspected among people who fell ill on a cruise ship being held in the Atlantic near Cape Verde, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
Among the seven cases, three people have died, one was critically ill and three have mild symptoms, the WHO said in a statement late on Monday.
At least 147 passengers and crew are still stuck on the MV Hondius, which is carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers on a trip that set off from Argentina in March and is now off the coast of West Africa.
The three fatalities were a Dutch couple and a German national, officials said, and a British national was evacuated from the ship from Ascension and was being treated in South Africa.
The UN health body, however, reiterated its advice that the risk to the wider public is low for the virus, which only rarely passes between humans.
On Tuesday, the WHO said it was trying to trace people on a flight between the island of Saint Helena and Johannesburg taken by the Dutch woman who died of the hantavirus.
“Contact tracing for passengers on the flight has been initiated,” it said.
Evacuations planned for symptomatic passengers
Despite the deadly outbreak, “the atmosphere on board MV Hondius remains calm, with passengers generally composed,” the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said in a statement late on Monday.
It said it was working on getting the passengers screened and disembarked and was considering sailing to Spain’s Las Palmas or Tenerife.
The WHO said on Tuesday that Spain would “welcome” the ship, which would enable an investigation and assessment of the risk to the remaining passengers.
The WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, Maria Van Kerkhove, told reporters the ship would head for the Canary Islands.
“We’re working with Spanish authorities who … have said that they will welcome the ship to do a full investigation, a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship and, of course, to assess the risk of the passengers that are actually on board.”
The operator also said Dutch authorities were preparing a medical evacuation of two symptomatic people on board along with a person associated with a guest who died on Saturday.
The first stricken passenger, the Dutch man, died on April 11 as the ship steamed towards Tristan da Cunha.
Q&A
What are the symptoms of hantavirus infection?
Symptoms of hantavirus infection can include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, followed by respiratory issues.
How many people are stranded on the MV Hondius?
At least 147 passengers and crew members are currently stranded on the MV Hondius.
What actions are being taken regarding the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship?
The WHO is monitoring the situation and has advised that the risk to the wider public remains low.
What countries are the passengers from on the MV Hondius?
The passengers on the MV Hondius are primarily from Britain, the United States, and Spain.
