An outbreak of suspected hantavirus has occurred on a cruise ship where three passengers have died – authorities have identified the specific strain. Hantavirus is a rare disease that can be transmitted from rodents to humans, and the World Health Organization noted that it may have spread among individuals in close proximity. Approximately 150 people are stranded on the luxury liner MV Hondius off the coast of West Africa, with three passengers, including an elderly couple, succumbing to the illness, one of whom tested positive for hantavirus.
Additional cases involve a seriously ill passenger receiving treatment in a Johannesburg hospital, and three others reporting mild symptoms. South Africa’s health ministry disclosed that the two confirmed cases are linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus. Health officials have disseminated information and guidance about this uncommon yet potentially fatal disease.
The virus can lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe condition affecting the heart and lungs, with a high mortality rate, as stated by the NHS. Only specific strains of hantavirus can result in HCPS, and the Andes strain is one of them.
Initial signs of the Andes virus may manifest as flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle pain, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues. Respiratory symptoms typically do not appear initially but may develop as the illness progresses, with symptoms such as a dry cough stemming from lung capillary leakage.
Moreover, worsening flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, respiratory failure, shock, and hemorrhage can ensue as the illness advances. Symptoms usually manifest one to eight weeks after exposure to the Andes virus, with the disease typically emerging two to four weeks post-exposure.
Hantavirus can be transmitted from animals to humans through contact with infected rodents, their droppings, saliva, or urine. Inhaling particles from contaminated droppings or touching infected areas with bare hands can facilitate transmission. Although rare, transmission through rodent bites is also possible, with infected rodents displaying no visible signs of the disease.
Officials have noted that the Andes variant can spread among humans through close contact with infected individuals, often occurring within families. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus or the Andes strain. Supportive care is provided to infected individuals, addressing respiratory, cardiac, and kidney complications. Early diagnosis is crucial in managing the disease, according to the WHO.
The Andes variant of hantavirus originates from infected rodents in South America, with past reports of the virus in countries like Argentina and Chile. The WHO mentioned that the deceased 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife had traveled through South America, including Argentina, before boarding the vessel.
The MV Hondius had been awaiting docking off the coast of Cape Verde, but the island nation declined entry. While the ship was en route to the Canary Islands, the leader of the Spanish archipelago refused docking permission on Wednesday morning.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that three patients have been evacuated from the liner for medical care in the Netherlands.
