3 dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard Dutch cruise ship, WHO says. Here's what we know so far.
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Three people have died and four others fallen ill aboard the Dutch expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, currently quarantined off Cape Verde, in a suspected hantavirus outbreak, with cases confirmed in British and Dutch passengers.
- Hantavirus, typically transmitted from rodents to humans through contact with their excreta, causes severe respiratory illnesses; human-to-human transmission is rare but possible with certain strains found in South America.
- The ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April and has been at sea for about seven weeks; several deaths and severe illnesses occurred during the voyage, with some patients hospitalized in South Africa.
- Cape Verde authorities have prohibited passenger disembarkation to prevent local spread, while the cruise operator considers continuing to the Canary Islands for medical evacuation and further screening.
- The World Health Organization states the outbreak poses a low global risk and advises against panic or travel restrictions, emphasizing ongoing isolation and medical monitoring aboard the vessel.
