© Unsplash/Sheila Jellison An outbreak of the deadly hantavirus on board the cruise ship MV Hondius has resulted in the deaths of three people. WHO coordinates response to hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship Healthcare
“Due to the tragic loss of life, we are taking urgent action to address the consequences of a hantavirus outbreak on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean,” Hans Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, said Monday.
An outbreak of the deadly hantavirus on board the cruise ship MV Hondius led to the death of three people. One patient is in intensive care in South Africa. The World Health Organization is coordinating the evacuation and medical examination of the ship’s passengers.
At the moment, after laboratory testing, the WHO statement says, one case of the disease has been confirmed among the ship’s passengers. Another five are under review.
“Local Major Event”
“This is a local major event, so no need to panic. There is no need for travel restrictions at this stage,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yacoub Janabi.
“Our goals are clear: to save lives, contain risks and support countries with evidence-based measures,” he added.WHO spokesman Bhanu Bhatnagar told UN News Service that infection with the virus is rare and is usually associated with contact with infected rodents: “The disease can be severe in some cases, but the virus is extremely rarely transmitted from person to person. At this time, the risk to the general public remains low and there is no cause for concern or travel restrictions.”
Hantaviruses cause severe illness, most commonly affecting the lungs or kidneys. At least 10 thousand cases of infection are registered annually in the world; most occur in Asia and Europe.
Symptoms appear one to six weeks after exposure to an infected host (rodent) and typically include fever, headache, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is extremely rare.
WHO Efforts
WHO is working closely with the cruise ship operator and the countries involved to provide medical care to those infected, coordinate evacuations, and conduct a comprehensive risk assessment. Two symptomatic patients were evacuated from the ship; the remaining passengers, as well as the crew, are quarantined on board and receiving the necessary care.
In parallel, the investigation into the outbreak continues: laboratory tests, epidemiological analysis and genetic sequencing of the virus are being carried out.
WHO has informed the national medical authorities of the countries involved in accordance with the International Health Regulations and is preparing updated information on disease outbreak.