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Doctor Leads Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Response
11 May
Summary
- An American doctor took charge during a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
- The ship's physician and several passengers/crew tested positive for the virus.
- Affected passengers are being transported to their home countries for evaluation.
An American doctor, Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, assumed leadership of the medical response aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship following a hantavirus outbreak. The ship's physician was among six individuals who tested positive for the virus. Tragically, one passenger with a probable case died onboard, and two other individuals, including the ship's doctor, became seriously ill.
Those testing positive are undergoing isolation in various locations. The ship's doctor and a guide are isolated in the Netherlands, a British man is hospitalized in South Africa, and a Swiss man is in Switzerland. A Dutch woman died in South Africa on April 26, and a German woman died in Switzerland on May 2.
As of Saturday afternoon, none of the 17 Americans on board had tested positive. The ship was scheduled to reach the Canary Islands on Sunday morning for disembarkation. American passengers will be flown to Omaha, Nebraska, for evaluation at the National Quarantine Unit, though no mandatory quarantine will be imposed.
