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Deadly Virus Spreads on Antarctic Cruise Ship
13 May
Summary
- Hantavirus infection confirmed on ship with passengers from over 20 countries.
- The Andes strain, a human-transmissible hantavirus, has a 30-50% fatality rate.
- International cooperation is vital for global health, especially with funding cuts.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged vessel carrying passengers from more than 20 countries, became the site of a hantavirus outbreak after departing Ushuaia on April 1. An elderly Dutch man died on April 11 with symptoms of fever, headache, diarrhea, and acute respiratory distress. His wife later died in South Africa after falling ill shortly after disembarking.
A British national was evacuated to an ICU in South Africa with similar breathing difficulties, and subsequent tests confirmed a hantavirus infection. A German woman also died on board on May 2. Tests conducted on May 2 and May 4 confirmed the presence of the Andes strain of hantavirus, known for its transmissibility between humans and a fatality rate between 30-50%.
As the ship neared Cape Verde on May 3, three passengers, including the doctor who treated the first patient, presented with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. Spain agreed to allow the ship to dock in the Canary Islands on May 5, where passengers began to be evacuated. This situation underscores the necessity of international cooperation and communication in managing global health crises.
The strain of hantavirus involved has been sequenced. While typically contracted through rodent droppings, the Andes strain's human-to-human transmission is a significant concern. The World Health Organization recommends a six-week quarantine for those on board and their contacts. The ship is currently in Tenerife, Spain, with some crew members expected to return the vessel to the Netherlands.
