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Doctor on Hantavirus Cruise Tests Positive
13 May
Summary
- A doctor onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship tested faintly positive for hantavirus.
- The cruise ship had a remote voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde starting April 1.
- Illinois is investigating an unrelated hantavirus case acquired from rodent droppings.
A doctor onboard the remote MV Hondius cruise ship has tested faintly positive for hantavirus. Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, a retired oncologist, was a passenger on the vessel that departed Argentina for Cape Verde on April 1 with 147 individuals aboard.
Dr. Kornfeld reported experiencing flu-like symptoms in early April, including night sweats, chills, and fatigue. His nasal swab samples, tested in the Netherlands, yielded a faintly positive result for hantavirus, though he awaits further confirmation. He currently feels well.
Separately, Illinois health officials are investigating a potential hantavirus case in Winnebago County. This case is unrelated to the cruise ship outbreak and is suspected to stem from exposure to rodent droppings in a home. The affected resident in Illinois is recovering from mild symptoms.
While the Andes strain of hantavirus on the cruise ship can, in rare cases, spread person-to-person, North American strains typically do not. The risk to Illinois residents remains very low.
