Cruise-Linked Hantavirus Cases Rise to 13 After Spain Detects New Infection
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 27
Cruise-Linked Hantavirus Cases Rise to 13 After Spain Detects New Infection
7 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 27
Spain reported a new hantavirus infection among quarantined passengers from the MV Hondius, lifting the cruise-linked outbreak total to 13, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Three of the 13 patients have died, but WHO said no new deaths have been recorded since May 2 and described the situation as stable.
All remaining passengers, crew and medical staff have disembarked from the luxury liner over the past two weeks, while sick passengers receive care and others stay in quarantine.
Hantaviruses are rodent-borne pathogens; WHO estimates 10,000 to 100,000 human cases occur globally each year, with severity varying by strain.
How did a rare rodent virus begin spreading between people on a luxury cruise ship?
With a 50% fatality rate, is this outbreak a one-off tragedy or a preview of the next global pandemic?