The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled the hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship Hondius as a “serious incident,” despite indicating that the public health risks remain low. This comes as the first suspected case from an individual not aboard the ship has been reported, prompting global health officials to trace contacts. Currently, the situation on the Hondius is stable, with the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stating that no remaining passengers or crew exhibit symptoms of the virus. Three doctors were stationed on the ship prior to its departure from Cape Verde, following the evacuation of two crew members, including the ship’s doctor, who displayed respiratory symptoms.
Concerns have escalated as a passenger who disembarked earlier and traveled to Switzerland is now in isolation. On April 24, 30 passengers left the Hondius in Saint Helena, with most likely traveling to South Africa. Health officials across several countries, including South Africa, Singapore, and France, are monitoring these passengers and their contacts. In Saint Helena, individuals who had close contact with the passengers have been advised to isolate for 45 days. Reports indicate that a French passenger is showing mild symptoms, while a KLM flight attendant has been hospitalized with a suspected case.
The WHO is actively tracing the movements of passengers and collaborating with Argentine officials to investigate the outbreak’s origins. Initial cases involved a couple who had been bird-watching in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, where they likely contracted the Andes strain of the hantavirus, the only strain known to transmit between humans. The man died on April 11, and his wife, who later disembarked in Saint Helena, was removed from a KLM flight due to illness and subsequently passed away in South Africa. Oceanwide Expeditions clarified that the first confirmed case of hantavirus occurred on May 4, involving a passenger who was evacuated and remains hospitalized.
The regional president of the Canary Islands has successfully urged the Spanish government to prevent the Hondius from docking in Tenerife. The ship is now en route to Grandilla, expected to arrive by early Sunday morning. The WHO is coordinating health protocols and distributing 2,500 diagnostic kits from Argentina. Local officials in the Canary Islands are advocating for the ship to remain anchored, with passengers isolated. While the WHO asserts that this outbreak does not pose a pandemic threat similar to COVID-19 due to its low transmission rate, it underscores the necessity for robust global health protocols.
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