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WHO: Human-to-Human Hantavirus Transmission Possible on Cruise Ship After Deaths
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ Poland /Health & Science

WHO: Human-to-Human Hantavirus Transmission Possible on Cruise Ship After Deaths

From Rzeczpospolita · (7m ago) Polish Critical tone

Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The WHO has issued a new statement regarding a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
  • The organization now considers human-to-human transmission of the virus a possibility, a previously unlikely scenario.
  • Seven people on board have fallen ill, with three deaths reported, and one person remains in critical condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a significant update concerning the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, a development that warrants close attention. Previously, experts considered human-to-human transmission of hantavirus to be a remote possibility. However, the WHO's latest communication acknowledges that given the close contact among some infected individuals, such transmission cannot be ruled out. This shift in perspective, articulated by Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, highlights the evolving understanding of the situation and underscores the need for precautionary measures.

We know that some of the infected people had very close contact with each other and certainly human-to-human transmission cannot be excluded, so as a precaution we are proceeding with that assumption.

โ€” Dr. Maria Van KerkhoveExplaining the WHO's updated assessment on the possibility of human-to-human transmission.

The cruise ship, currently navigating the West African coast, carries 147 individuals, including 17 Americans. Of these, seven have become ill, three have tragically died, one is in critical condition, and three others are reporting milder symptoms, according to WHO figures. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, embarked on its journey from Ushuaia, Argentina, in April, charting a course through remote islands. The rapid onset of a severe respiratory illness among passengers has raised alarms and prompted thorough investigation.

The risk to the general public is low.

โ€” Dr. Maria Van KerkhoveReassuring the public about the limited risk outside the affected ship.

Hantavirus, typically contracted through contact with infected rodents' excreta or saliva, is rare. Seven cases have been identified on the MV Hondius, with two confirmed and five suspected. The fatalities include a Dutch couple and a German national, while a British citizen remains in intensive care in South Africa, though their condition is reportedly improving. Two other individuals on board are experiencing symptoms and are undergoing medical evacuation. The WHO emphasizes that the risk to the general public remains low, reassuring that hantavirus does not spread like influenza or COVID-19. This distinction is crucial for public understanding and response.

This is not a virus that spreads like the flu or COVID-19. It's a completely different matter.

โ€” Dr. Maria Van KerkhoveDifferentiating hantavirus transmission from more common respiratory viruses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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