Health officials have confirmed the presence of the Andes strain of hantavirus, a type that can spread from person to person, in individuals who were aboard a cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak of the rare disease. Two patients with hantavirus and a suspected case were airlifted from the MV Hondius vessel to the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to the World Health Organization. The ship departed Cape Verde with around 150 passengers on board, en route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Among those evacuated was the ship’s doctor, whose condition has shown improvement, as reported by Spain’s Health Ministry. The individuals evacuated included a 56-year-old Briton, a 41-year-old Dutch national, and a 65-year-old German, who were promptly transferred to specialized hospitals in Europe. Oceanwide Expeditions stated that two patients are in critical condition, while the third person, although asymptomatic, had close contact with a deceased German passenger.
The ship is scheduled to dock in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, within the next few days, with remaining passengers, including four Canadians, not displaying symptoms of the illness. Non-Spanish citizens will be repatriated upon arrival if they remain in good health, announced Spain’s health minister. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has arranged for consular staff to meet the Canadian passengers upon disembarkation in Tenerife.
The Public Health Agency of Canada reassured that the risk remains low for the four asymptomatic Canadian passengers on board and stated that no specific measures are needed under the Quarantine Act at this time. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are closely monitoring the situation and providing technical assistance to mitigate risks.
Hantavirus, primarily spread by rodents but occasionally by humans, can lead to severe cardiopulmonary complications and a mortality rate of up to 50 percent, according to the WHO. The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus type with confirmed human-to-human transmission, typically through intimate contact. The WHO emphasized that transmission occurs through very close physical contact, distinct from COVID-19 and influenza spread.
The WHO confirmed cases of hantavirus among passengers on the ship and noted a rise in suspected cases, including one confirmed case in Switzerland. Health authorities in various countries, including South Africa, Switzerland, Senegal, and Argentina, collaborated to identify the virus strain. Health officials have initiated disinfection protocols on the ship and isolated passengers in their cabins as a precautionary measure.