Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO says

The World Health Organization has raised concerns about the potential for human-to-human transmission of hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, following the deaths of three passengers. While the virus is primarily spread through rodents, the WHO's Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove indicated that close contacts on the ship might have facilitated transmission, a scenario she described as rare. The first case may have been contracted before boarding, with a Dutch couple and a UK national confirmed to have the virus.

The MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina, is currently anchored near Cape Verde. Local authorities have prevented passengers from disembarking due to safety concerns, highlighting the international response to the outbreak. The WHO is prioritizing the treatment of two crew members with respiratory symptoms, who are set to be medically evacuated to the Netherlands.

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Some people on the ship were couples, they were sharing rooms, so that's quite intimate contact.

This situation underscores the challenges of managing potential infectious disease outbreaks in confined environments like cruise ships. While the WHO emphasizes the low risk to the public and the rarity of human-to-human hantavirus transmission, the incident has led to significant precautionary measures, including disinfection and the use of personal protective equipment. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on the Andes strain of the virus, typically found in South America.

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Our working hypothesis is that there's probably a couple of different types of transmission that might be happening.