Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship: Oceanwide Expeditions crew member critical following three passenger deaths - what is deadly virus?
Following the outbreak of Hantavirus on a Oceanwide Expeditions cruise ship, a crew member is now in a critical condition - what is is Hantavirus and is there a cure?
A British crew member requires urgent medical care and a passenger from the UK remains in a critical but stable condition following a suspected Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean - which has left three people dead. Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two additional cases of the illness had been confirmed after the deaths, including a British passenger receiving care in South Africa and a newly confirmed case in a Dutch woman who passed away on April 27 after disembarking.
The company said on Monday two staff members — one British and one Dutch — were continuing to show “acute respiratory symptoms”, one mild and one severe. The suspected outbreak was reported on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.
Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed the British tourist remains in a “critical but stable” condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa on April 27, where they are being treated in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg. The ship’s journey began on April 1, and a passenger died on board on April 11, Oceanwide Expeditions said. The cause of death could not be determined on board.
On April 24, this passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation. The wife became unwell during the return journey and died. Authorities later confirmed she tested positive for a variant of hantavirus. Both passengers were Dutch nationals. On May 2, a German passenger on board died. The cause has not yet been established, the tour operator confirmed.
The company added that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for three individuals who will be medically evacuated. “Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals along with the individual associated with the guest that passed away,” the company said. “This will involve two specialised aircraft equipped with the necessary medical equipment and staffed by trained medical crews. This is not confirmed and is subject to change.”
The ship may instead continue to Las Palmas or Tenerife, but no final disembarkation point has been finalised.
Hantavirus infections, which are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal. A UK Government spokesperson said: “This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the Hantavirus outbreak.
“FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Consular teams have been stood up across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals and we are working around the clock with our international partners, including the cruise ship operator. FCDO teams are also in contact with the family of a British man who was a passenger on the ship and is now in hospital in South Africa.”
The risk to the wider public remains low, according to Hans Henri P Kluge, the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for Europe. He added that there is “no need for panic or travel restrictions”.
“Strict precautionary measures” are in place on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring, the cruise operator added.
What is hantavirus, how do you catch it and is there a cure?
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, hantaviruses are “rodent-borne viruses causing clinical illness in humans of varying severity”. There are several different hantaviruses, each specific to a different rodent host.
Transmission of the virus to humans occurs through the inhalation of infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. There is no curative treatment for Hantavirus infection, and eliminating or minimising contact with rodents is the best way to prevent infection.
While it is rare, Hantavirus infections can spread between people, according to the WHO. While there is no specific treatment or cure, patients have a better chance of survival if they receive medical attention early.