Hantavirus: Another virus outbreak? Here’s everything you need to know
Hantavirus is back in the news after cases were confirmed on cruise ship MV Hondius. Here is what you need to know about how it spreads, symptoms, and prevention.
A luxury expedition cruise crossing the Atlantic has suddenly turned into a floating health emergency after a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected several others on board. Among the crew members still on the ship are at least two Indians, according to international reports.
The Dutch vessel MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1. The ship is now heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands, where it is expected to arrive on May 10.
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Also Read: WHO reports hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship; three dead, one critical
WHO confirms five cases on the cruise ship
The World Health Organization confirmed on Thursday that five of the eight suspected hantavirus infections on board had tested positive.
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Among the dead is a 69-year-old Dutch woman whose infection had already been confirmed. Her husband, also from the Netherlands, and a German woman later died as well. Officials are still investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the other deaths.
Health experts say the situation is serious, but they are also trying to calm fears. Maria van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at WHO, stressed that the outbreak is very different from Covid-19.
According to her, hantavirus does not spread in the same easy and fast way as coronavirus or influenza. She explained that transmission happens through “close, intimate contact,” making the risk pattern very different from airborne pandemics.
Even so, passengers and crew members on the ship have reportedly been told to wear masks. People caring for infected individuals were advised to use stronger protective equipment.
Indian crew members among 150 people on board
The ship initially carried around 150 passengers and crew members representing 28 countries. The group included tourists, staff, expedition workers, and sailors from different parts of the world.
According to reports, there are 38 people from the Philippines, 31 from the United Kingdom, 23 from the United States, 16 from the Netherlands, 14 from Spain, nine from Germany, six from Canada, and two Indian crew members on the vessel.
The presence of Indian nationals has drawn attention in India as families and authorities wait for further updates about them.
The cruise liner is known for taking travelers on remote expedition-style journeys. Many passengers reportedly joined the voyage expecting a once-in-a-lifetime adventure across isolated ocean routes.
Instead, the ship has spent its final days under strict health monitoring.
First known human-to-human spread raises concern
Hantavirus is usually linked to rodents. People generally get infected after coming into contact with rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.
But the current outbreak has alarmed experts because the WHO says human-to-human transmission was documented during this incident for the first time.
That finding has triggered urgent monitoring by health agencies, although experts insist this does not mean the world is facing another pandemic.
Van Kerkhove repeated that the virus spreads “very, very differently” compared to Covid-19. Still, the unusual nature of the outbreak has pushed authorities to stay cautious.
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