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What to Know About Hantavirus, the Illness Suspected in Cruise Ship Outbreak
Oceanwide Expeditions is working with authorities to repatriate the dead and treat one confirmed case and two ill crew members.
- On Monday, the MV Hondius cruise ship remained stationary off Cape Verde for at least 24 hours carrying around 150 passengers as operator Oceanwide Expeditions managed a serious medical situation involving symptomatic crew and guests.
- Hantavirus is a rare, fatal respiratory illness transmitted through inhalation of airborne particles from infected rodent droppings, with a long incubation period meaning symptoms emerge anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure.
- Three passengers died during the voyage, including a Dutch couple who died shortly after displaying symptoms; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the most common form, carries a 30% to 50% mortality rate for those infected.
- Dutch authorities organized a joint effort to repatriate the two symptomatic individuals and deceased passenger to the Netherlands, as Cape Verdean authorities had not authorized disembarkation for guests requiring medical care as of May 3.
- Epidemiologist Michael Baker told the BBC that passengers likely contracted the virus before boarding due to the long incubation period, adding that the outbreak requires investigation to evaluate traveller itineraries and identify preventable factors.
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19 Articles
19 Articles
Hantavirus is concerned after the death of three passengers from a Dutch cruise ship. Transmitted by rodents, this rare virus has a mortality rate close to 40%.
A cruise ship, a possible source of hantavirus that caused three deaths on board, was not allowed to dock in the port of Cape Verde's capital Praia, but the episode presents a "low risk" of spread according to WHO.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 36%
C 50%
14%
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