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🇰🇷 South Korea /Health & Science

WHO suspects human-to-human Hantavirus transmission on cruise ship after 3 deaths

From Hankyoreh · (4m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating a potential human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus on a cruise ship, where three people have died.
  • The virus, typically spread through rodents, may have been transmitted between close contacts on the MV Hondius cruise ship, as no rodents were reported onboard.
  • The cruise ship is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, with Spain agreeing to allow it to dock in its Canary Islands territory for medical evacuation.

The Hankyoreh is reporting on a concerning development regarding the Hantavirus, with the World Health Organization (WHO) investigating the possibility of human-to-human transmission aboard a cruise ship. This potential shift in transmission dynamics is particularly alarming given the virus's usual mode of spread through rodents.

We are assuming that human-to-human transmission may have occurred among very close contacts.

— Maria Van KerkhoveWHO's infectious disease expert, speaking at a press conference about the potential for Hantavirus transmission between people.

The incident occurred on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, where two confirmed cases and five suspected cases of Hantavirus have been reported, resulting in three deaths. The WHO's statement, citing the absence of rodents on board, suggests that close contact between individuals may have facilitated the spread. While human-to-human transmission is considered rare for Hantavirus, the WHO is not ruling out the possibility, especially among partners or those sharing close quarters.

The cruise ship has been navigating the Atlantic after departing in late March, visiting locations like Antarctica and South Georgia. It is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, which has denied the ship port access due to public health concerns. However, Spain has agreed to allow the vessel to dock in its Canary Islands territory, facilitating the medical evacuation of the affected passengers.

Human-to-human transmission is rare, but we cannot rule out the possibility of transmission when relationships are close, such as between spouses, or when sharing a cabin.

— Maria Van KerkhoveWHO's infectious disease expert, explaining the conditions under which Hantavirus might spread between people.

This situation underscores the potential for infectious diseases to spread rapidly in confined environments like cruise ships. While the WHO emphasizes that the overall risk to the general public remains low, the investigation into human-to-human transmission highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparedness. The Hankyoreh will continue to follow this story, providing updates on the investigation and the fate of the passengers aboard the MV Hondius.

Based on the information gathered so far, the overall risk level to the general public is low, and there is no need for excessive anxiety.

— WHOAssessing the public health risk associated with the Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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