The World Health Organization emphasized on Thursday that the general public faces a “low” risk, despite the presence of the Andean hantavirus strain on a stricken cruise ship, which can rarely be transmitted among humans. The WHO is preparing detailed guidance for the MV Hondius’ arrival in Spain’s Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers, including four Canadians, are set to disembark without any current symptoms.
At least three individuals, including a Dutch couple and a German national, have succumbed to the outbreak on the Hondius, with five more suspected of contracting the virus. Speaking at a news conference, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic management, underscored the distinction between hantavirus and the ongoing coronavirus situation, labeling it as a unique circumstance.
Hantavirus primarily spreads through contact with rodents or their excretions, particularly when disturbed and aerosolized, potentially leading to inhalation risks. While the Andean strain identified in this outbreak is rare, it has demonstrated human-to-human transmission capabilities. Symptoms may include severe fatigue, fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and can progress to breathing difficulties, potentially culminating in hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, impacting the lungs and posing fatal risks.
WHO officials highlighted the unprecedented nature of this outbreak, the first cluster of hantavirus found on a cruise ship, reassuring citizens of Tenerife in the Canary Islands not to panic due to the forthcoming protocols during disembarkation. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed that Canadian consular officials are en route to provide support in adherence to public health protocols. Efforts are underway globally to trace individuals who departed the ship before the hantavirus presence was confirmed.
Oceanwide Expeditions disclosed that 30 passengers disembarked in St. Helena before the outbreak was reported, including two Canadians and a deceased individual. The current whereabouts of these passengers remain unknown. Efforts are ongoing to monitor and locate individuals who disembarked at various locations and may have been exposed to the virus, necessitating isolation and testing protocols.
In light of the situation, health authorities worldwide are actively tracking and monitoring passengers from various regions who were aboard the cruise ship, ensuring appropriate measures are in place to contain any potential spread of the virus. The virus strain identified in the victims has been confirmed as the Andean strain, prompting heightened vigilance among health authorities.
Argentina’s Health Ministry intends to conduct rodent trapping and analysis in Ushuaia, the cruise ship’s originating point, suspecting the virus transmission may have occurred during a bird-watching excursion. Health authorities are on alert, with investigations ongoing to contain and prevent any further spread of the hantavirus.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Zain Chagla discussed the hantavirus risk in Canada, highlighting the identification of the Andes strain on the cruise ship at the center of the outbreak.
