The World Health Organization has warned that more cases of hantavirus infection could emerge following an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean that has already claimed three lives. However, the global health body said it does not expect the situation to escalate into a large-scale epidemic if countries continue implementing public health measures.
The outbreak is linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, where several passengers reportedly contracted the rare Andes strain of hantavirus during a voyage that began in Argentina in April. The incident has triggered international concern after confirmed infections were detected across multiple countries.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, five confirmed cases and three suspected infections have been reported so far, including the three deaths. Health officials cautioned that additional cases may still emerge because the virus can incubate for up to six weeks.
“The possibility of more cases cannot be ruled out,” WHO officials said during a briefing on Thursday, while emphasizing that the outbreak remains limited and manageable.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents, their saliva, urine or droppings. In rare cases involving the Andes strain found in parts of South America, limited human-to-human transmission has also been documented.
There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the disease. Medical experts say early supportive care and close monitoring of respiratory, cardiac and kidney complications significantly improve survival chances.
Symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and commonly include fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Severe cases can lead to life-threatening respiratory illness.
Cruise Ship Outbreak Raises Alarm
Health investigators believe one passenger may have contracted the virus before boarding the MV Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, later infecting others during the voyage across the Atlantic.
A Dutch couple who had recently travelled across South America were identified as the first fatalities linked to the outbreak. A German passenger later died on May 2 while still aboard the vessel.
The ship’s operator confirmed that several passengers had been evacuated for treatment after the vessel anchored near Cape Verde. Another infected passenger was transported to Amsterdam for medical care.
Authorities are now tracing passengers and crew members who boarded or disembarked from the ship since March 20. The WHO said at least 12 countries were notified after passengers left the vessel in Saint Helena during the voyage.
WHO: No Signs of Widespread Transmission
WHO emergency response official Abdirahman Sheikh Mahamud said the outbreak involved “a cluster in a confined space with close contact,” reducing the likelihood of broader community spread.
Health experts stressed that hantavirus spreads differently from respiratory viruses such as Covid-19 or influenza. WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said transmission generally requires prolonged close exposure, making widespread outbreaks less likely.
“There are no further symptomatic cases currently reported aboard the ship, which is encouraging,” she noted, while cautioning that monitoring would continue because of the long incubation period associated with the Andes strain.
Investigators Search for Source
Argentine health authorities said they have not yet determined where the outbreak originated. Officials are planning to test rodent populations in Ushuaia, the southern port city where the cruise departed.
“With the information currently available, it is not possible to confirm the exact source of the infection,” Argentina’s health ministry said following consultations with provincial authorities and international agencies.
Meanwhile, infected or suspected passengers are being isolated or treated in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa.
The outbreak has revived memories of the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when infections aboard cruise ships became major global concerns. However, WHO officials maintain that current evidence suggests the hantavirus cluster remains contained and unlikely to trigger a global public health emergency.
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