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*** dream cruise from Argentina to Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, has turned into *** nightmare. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that operates the ship M Vijandias, 3 of its passengers are dead and several more are sick. The suspected culprit, *** viral outbreak. Pantavirus is *** family of viruses that’s found really. All over the world, but only in rare circumstances does it make it into humans. Hantavirus can spread to humans through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. One type can transmit from person to person, but it’s rare. Disease investigators will be looking for that as *** possible source, possibly looking into the excursions, really just trying to understand. These passengers might have come in contact with the virus, the World Health Organization said Monday, quote, The risk to the wider public remains low. There is no need for panic or travel restrictions. Still, experts are puzzled as to how the disease might have spread on the cruise ship. This could really change the future of travel medicine and infectious disease and tropical medicine. Because we now have to add this list to something that could come in and rip through *** cruise ship. I’m Cherelle Hubbard reporting.
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Some human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak that has left three people dead and several others ill, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.“We do know that some of the cases had very close contact with each other and certainly human-to-human transmission can’t be ruled out so as a precaution this is what we are assuming,” Dr. Maria Van Kerhove, WHO’s Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters.Almost 150 people, including 17 Americans, remain stranded on the MV Hondius that is currently off the coast of West Africa.The ship, operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, left Ushuaia, Argentina last month on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping off at some of the world’s most remote islands. But along the way, several passengers fell sick with a rapidly progressing respiratory illness, the company said.Seven cases of hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by contact with infected rodents’ urine, feces or saliva, have been identified so far. Two of those are confirmed and five suspected, WHO said Monday.Three people – a Dutch couple and German national – have died while one British national remains in intensive care in South Africa, though Van Kerkhove said his condition is improving.Two other people suffering from hantavirus symptoms remain on board the ship, though their medical evacuation is currently underway, Van Kerkhove said.“The risk to the general public is low,” Van Kerkhove emphasized. “This is not a virus that spreads like flu or like COVID. It’s quite different.”
Some human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak that has left three people dead and several others ill, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
“We do know that some of the cases had very close contact with each other and certainly human-to-human transmission can’t be ruled out so as a precaution this is what we are assuming,” Dr. Maria Van Kerhove, WHO’s Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, told reporters.
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Almost 150 people, including 17 Americans, remain stranded on the MV Hondius that is currently off the coast of West Africa.
The ship, operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, left Ushuaia, Argentina last month on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping off at some of the world’s most remote islands. But along the way, several passengers fell sick with a rapidly progressing respiratory illness, the company said.
Seven cases of hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by contact with infected rodents’ urine, feces or saliva, have been identified so far. Two of those are confirmed and five suspected, WHO said Monday.
Three people – a Dutch couple and German national – have died while one British national remains in intensive care in South Africa, though Van Kerkhove said his condition is improving.
Two other people suffering from hantavirus symptoms remain on board the ship, though their medical evacuation is currently underway, Van Kerkhove said.
“The risk to the general public is low,” Van Kerkhove emphasized. “This is not a virus that spreads like flu or like COVID. It’s quite different.”
