SouthernWorldwide.com – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that it believes there was a rare instance of human-to-human transmission of the hantavirus on a cruise ship at the center of an outbreak. Three individuals have now died from the illness.
“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that’s happening among the really close contacts [on board],” stated Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist with the WHO, during a press conference. “The husband and wife, people who’ve shared cabins, etc. So, again, our assumption is that has happened.”
The MV Hondius, a Dutch vessel carrying nearly 150 people, had been awaiting assistance off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. The African island nation had previously refused to allow the ship to dock due to public health concerns.
However, the Spanish government confirmed on Tuesday that the ship would be permitted to sail to the Canary Islands. This decision allows for a “full investigation” and “full disinfection” of the vessel.
The WHO later issued a statement confirming that, in coordination with the European Union, it had officially requested Spain to host the Hondius in the Canary Islands. This move aims to manage the public health situation effectively.
“The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is conducting a comprehensive examination of the ship to determine which individuals require urgent evacuation within Cape Verde itself,” the WHO stated. “The remainder will continue their journey toward the Canary Islands, where they are expected to arrive within three to four days.”
Upon arrival in the Canary Islands, passengers and crew will undergo medical screenings before being repatriated to their home countries. The WHO noted that Cape Verde “lacks the capacity to carry out this operation,” necessitating the transfer.
In addition to the three fatalities, two of whom died onboard and a third shortly after disembarking, there are four other suspected or confirmed cases of the virus. One of these is a British national who was evacuated from the boat and is currently in intensive care in South Africa, according to the WHO.
The remaining three cases, who are still aboard the ship, will first be evacuated to Cape Verde and then transferred to the Netherlands to receive medical care. This was confirmed by the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, in a statement released on Tuesday.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with rodents or their excreta. However, the WHO indicated that while rare, the Andes strain of hantavirus can spread between humans. The organization suspects this mode of transmission occurred on the stricken ship, which was on a polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and various South Atlantic islands.
When humans contract the hantavirus, the mortality rate can be as high as 50%. This underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for careful management.
Van Kerkhove, who directs epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the WHO, informed journalists that Spanish authorities “have said that they will welcome the ship to do a full investigation, a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship and of course … assess the risk of the passengers that are actually on board.”
The Spanish Ministry of Health informed CBS News that its epidemiologists would commence a review of the ship on Tuesday afternoon. This investigation is crucial for understanding the scope of the outbreak.
“This intervention is intended to assess the condition of the people on board, determine whether there are more individuals with symptoms, and identify any high-risk or low-risk contacts,” the ministry stated. “This will help inform decisions regarding repatriation processes and the ship’s route.”
Ann Lindstrand, the WHO’s representative in Cape Verde, told CBS News’ Ramy Inocencio that there is no risk of a pandemic-level threat from the hantavirus, given the low probability of human-to-human transmission. This provides some reassurance regarding the broader public health implications.
She confirmed that three individuals would be medically evacuated to the Netherlands on Tuesday. Lindstrand added that the condition of these patients was “reassuring,” as they are recovering and stable, having received care from Cape Verdean medical teams on the vessel in recent days.
Spanish and Dutch authorities are currently in “intense discussions” regarding the next steps for the passengers on board. These passengers have been instructed to remain in their cabins as much as possible to minimize further transmission risks.
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“If there is the need for a quarantine, that will be a decision of the health authorities in Spain or Holland at that point in time, with the close collaboration and advice of WHO,” Lindstrand explained. The decision-making process involves international cooperation.
The potential quarantine period could extend up to two months, as the incubation period for hantavirus ranges from one to eight weeks. Lindstrand commented that “eight weeks is a horribly long time to be in quarantine.”
She also mentioned she is in contact with a volunteer doctor on the boat who reported that passengers were “coping surprisingly well,” despite their anxiety about their next destination. This indicates a degree of resilience among those affected.
The WHO stated that it is collaborating with local authorities and Oceanwide Expeditions on a “full public health risk assessment.” The exact origin of the outbreak remains unclear, prompting detailed investigations.
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said. “Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.” This comprehensive approach aims to gather all necessary information.
The British man evacuated to South Africa on April 27 tested positive for the virus and is reported to be in critical condition. This highlights the severity of the illness in some cases.
A 70-year-old Dutch man died on board on April 11. His 69-year-old wife subsequently died in South Africa after leaving the ship, with her blood later testing positive for the virus, according to South Africa’s health minister.
The death of the third passenger, identified as a German national, occurred on May 2, according to Oceanwide Expeditions. The victim’s body is still on the ship, but the cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed by the operator.
The WHO has also initiated efforts to trace individuals who shared a flight with the 69-year-old Dutch passenger. This woman disembarked the boat on April 24 with “gastrointestinal symptoms” and passed away two days later. Her condition reportedly “deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg.”
“Contact tracing for passengers on the flight has been initiated,” the WHO added, emphasizing the importance of tracking potential exposures.
Among the 87 passengers remaining on board, 17 are American, 19 are from the UK, and 13 are from Spain, as per Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship also carries 61 crew members.
The vessel departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on April 1, according to Argentine provincial authorities. Health officials in Ushuaia confirmed that no passengers exhibited hantavirus symptoms at the time of departure.
However, due to the potential incubation period of up to eight weeks, “the passengers could have been incubating the disease if they acquired it within the country or elsewhere in the world,” Juan Facundo Petrina, director of epidemiology for Tierra del Fuego province, told The Associated Press. This indicates that the timing of exposure is critical.
Petrina noted that while the province has not historically reported hantavirus cases, infections have occurred in other Argentine provinces, leading to 28 deaths nationwide last year, according to the health ministry. This context is important for understanding the risk landscape.
Oceanwide Expeditions offers “Atlantic Odyssey” cruises on the vessel, with durations of 33 or 43 nights. The ship has 80 cabins, a capacity for 170 passengers, and typically operates with approximately 70 crew members, including a doctor.
