Home / Health / US Doctor Catches Hantavirus on Cruise
US Doctor Catches Hantavirus on Cruise
14 May
Summary
- A US doctor contracted hantavirus aboard a cruise ship.
- He suspects he caught the virus while helping sick passengers.
- Three deaths have been confirmed, with two linked to the virus.
A US physician has confirmed he is the American passenger diagnosed with hantavirus while aboard the Hondius cruise ship. Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, currently quarantining in Omaha, Nebraska, believes he may have contracted the virus after volunteering to care for ailing passengers when the ship's medical officer became unwell.
Dr. Kornfeld reported experiencing flu-like symptoms, including night sweats, chills, fatigue, and mild respiratory issues for three days. While his fatigue lingered for over two weeks, he is now feeling fully recovered. He is being closely monitored in a secure hospital environment, emphasizing the robust biocontainment measures in place.
The hantavirus outbreak has led to significant concern, with passengers suspected of infection required to quarantine for up to 42 days. The World Health Organization notes that symptoms can take up to eight weeks to manifest. Tragically, three individuals have died, with two confirmed hantavirus cases: an elderly Dutch man, his wife, and a German woman.
Internationally, a French woman is critically ill in an artificial lung, and a British man in South Africa is showing gradual improvement from the virus. In the UK, 22 individuals are under quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital.
