Officials Racing To Contract Trace Potentially Infected Hantavirus Cruise Passengers-Including Americans (Live Updates)

Key Points:

• The World Health Organization confirmed that dozens of people, including Americans, left the MV Hondius cruise ship and flew home after the first hantavirus-related death but before knowing they had been exposed to the deadly virus.
• The MV Hondius, carrying nearly 150 people from 23 countries, is currently off the coast of West Africa with passengers isolating in cabins while medical teams in protective gear manage the outbreak on board.
• The outbreak has resulted in three confirmed cases and three deaths, with five additional suspected cases; the ship was denied docking permission in Cape Verde after medical evacuations and stops in remote islands.
• Andes hantavirus, known for rare person-to-person transmission primarily in South America, is the virus involved; transmission occurs mainly through close, prolonged contact, and symptoms can take up to eight weeks to appear.
• There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infections, only supportive care, and the U.S. CDC states the risk to the wider population is low when proper infection control measures are followed.