Online Reporter
Health authorities across the globe are racing to trace dozens of people who disembarked from a cruise ship before an outbreak of hantavirus was detected, and anyone who has come into close contact with them since.
Five cases have now been confirmed, including three deaths, following an outbreak on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The UN health agency also said the outbreak is not the start of a pandemic like Covid six years ago, because this hantavirus strain spreads through “close, intimate contact”.
But given the incubation period of this disease, which can be up to six weeks, it is possible more cases may be reported, WHO said.
The luxury cruise, Oceanwide Expeditions, said in a statement 114 guests and 61 crew members from 22 countries boarded the vessel, but 32 guests disembarked at St Helena on April 24.
About 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries are reported to have initially been aboard the vessel, but dozens got off on the island of St Helena on April 24.
The ship began its journey on April 1 in Ushuaia, Argentina, and is expected to arrive in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10 (today).
On Friday, Oceanwide Expeditions published a detailed list of when crew and guests disembarked the ship at different stops.
Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents, with people infected by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
Rare instances of human transmission have been documented with the Andes strain, which is behind this outbreak. It is the first known transmission of the virus on a boat, WHO said on Thursday.
WHO is in touch with officials in at least 12 countries who are monitoring citizens that were on the ship or had returned home.
Those countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. — BBC
Tinaye Agere