Hantavirus Cases Now Suspected in 5 Countries as Authorities Scramble to Contain Outbreak
WHO says eight people fell ill on the MV Hondius, including three confirmed cases, and three deaths were reported as passengers remained stranded.
- On Wednesday, the World Health Organization confirmed an Andes hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship Hondius sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, with three deaths and eight individuals ill.
- Health experts suggest a 'mixture' of transmission, including close cabin contact, as the Andes strain can rarely spread between humans, though hantaviruses typically spread through rodent droppings or urine.
- Treatment is supportive, as 'there is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections.' Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is fatal in nearly 40 per cent of infected people, with symptoms appearing within eight weeks.
- Swiss authorities identified a separate infection in Zurich, while one British national is receiving treatment in Johannesburg and the Hondius remains stranded.
- Detailed investigations, including extensive laboratory testing and epidemiological studies, are underway as the World Health Organization continues sequencing the virus to understand the outbreak's transmission path.
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The World Health Organization confirmed on Thursday that eight cases have been reported so far related to the ship, five of which are confirmed cases of hantavirus and three are suspected. Hantavirus initially appears similar to the common flu, causing fever, body aches, and weakness, but the patient's condition can suddenly worsen.
The epidemic of Hantavirus on board the cruise ship MV Hondius is closely monitored by WHO. Eight cases, including three deaths, have been confirmed. Despite the seriousness of the incident, the risk to the disease has been...
Local 3 News
KEZI 9 NewsThe World Health Organization announced Thursday that eight cases of hantavirus—three confirmed infections and five suspected cases—have been identified among people connected to the MV Hondius cruise ship, while health authorities in several countries…
I've investigated a hantavirus outbreak. Here's what I can tell you about the cruise ship cluster
The cruise ship cluster of hantavirus cases continues to grow. The World Health Organization reports that as of May 6 there were eight cases, three of whom are confirmed by laboratory testing as hantavirus. In recent days, we heard three passengers had died.
From US to Singapore, cruise passengers are being monitored for hantavirus
The World Health Organization said Thursday that five confirmed infections have been identified among people connected to the cruise ship MV Hondius, as health authorities across several countries race to trace and contain the outbreak.
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