Cruise passengers are urgently tracked after deadly hantavirus outbreak
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 7
Cruise passengers are urgently tracked after deadly hantavirus outbreak
8 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 7
WHO said five cases and three suspected infections are linked to the Hondius, where 29 passengers, including six Americans, disembarked in St Helena without contact tracing.
Almost 150 people remain isolated on board as the ship heads to Spain’s Canary Islands, with evacuations due Monday if approved; US officials say public risk is extremely low.
Three people have died, and WHO says the Andes strain can spread through close contact, though experts stress it is far less transmissible than flu or Covid-19.
How did a rare, person-to-person hantavirus spark a deadly outbreak on a luxury cruise ship for the very first time?
Will the Hondius disaster permanently alter health and safety standards for the entire global expedition cruise industry?
Tracking the MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak: 8 Cases, 3 Deaths, and International Containment Efforts
Overview
The MV Hondius cruise ship is at the center of a hantavirus outbreak caused by the Andes virus, known for its rare human-to-human transmission through close contact. The virus likely entered the ship via infected passengers who contracted it in Argentina. Despite strict isolation and hygiene measures onboard, eight infections and three deaths have occurred. Symptomatic passengers were evacuated with strict precautions, but the virus's long incubation period means ongoing global monitoring and contact tracing are essential. International health agencies are coordinating efforts to contain the outbreak, while authorities prepare for the ship's arrival in the Canary Islands to minimize local exposure. The outbreak highlights the need for vigilance and improved preparedness in managing rare but deadly infectious diseases.