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A group of hantavirus infections occurred on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius while it was navigating the southern Atlantic, making stops at various locations.
Official health bodies are currently examining the situation. It is anticipated that during an ongoing inquiry, there will be areas of uncertainty. As these uncertainties are resolved, further information will be provided.
- As of May 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that six confirmed and two probable cases of hantavirus have been linked to a voyage on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius. The ship embarked on its present journey from Argentina on April 1. Tragically, three individuals have succumbed to the illness.
- Hantavirus infections are infrequent in people, but they can be fatal when they do arise. The majority of hantavirus infections in humans originate from contact with infected rodents or their excretions, such as urine, feces, or saliva.
- A specific strain, the Andes virus, is recognized for its capacity to transmit between individuals and has been identified as the cause of this outbreak. Officials believe that some person-to-person transmission has occurred.
- A number of individuals who disembarked the vessel on St. Helena on April 24 are now being reached out to for the purpose of contact tracing.
- The WHO and the U.S. CDC stress that this outbreak presents a minimal risk to the wider population.