Controversy erupts over the source of Hantavirus infection on Atlantic cruise ships

WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove believes there was rare human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus on the cruise ship that was the epicenter of the outbreak, which infected eight people, including three who died. "We believe that there may have been human-to-human transmission between groups in very close contact, such as couples, people sharing cabins. I repeat, our assumption is that this occurred," said Van Kerkhove, referring to the Dutch couple who died after their stay on the MV Hondius.

Controversy surrounding the source of Hantavirus infection.

Representatives from the United Nations health agency also hypothesized that tourists may have carried the disease while visiting wilderness areas in Argentina or islands along the African coast.

However, scientists reject the possibility of direct human-to-human transmission. Dr. Yomani Sarathkumara from the University of Queensland and Professor Vinod Balasubramaniam from Monash University Malaysia assert that Hantavirus is primarily transmitted to humans through the feces, urine, and saliva of rodents in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

Experts assess the risk of infection from breathing the same air as an infected person as highly unlikely. Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical correspondent, also stated that person-to-person transmission would require "close and prolonged contact," emphasizing that "this is not a virus capable of causing a pandemic."

"This also raises the question of whether many passengers were exposed to the same contaminated environment. If so, some of the cases may not have been due to person-to-person transmission at all," Gounder stated.

Instead of cross-contamination, experts have put forward three more realistic scenarios. First, rats carrying the pathogen enter storage areas or sleeping quarters on the ship and then spread the virus through waste.

Secondly, travelers contract the pathogen from activities on land before their trip because Hantavirus has a long incubation period.

Third, many passengers share a common living space in a polluted land environment.

The fact that Argentina's Ushuaia province has never reported a Hantavirus patient further strengthens the possibility that the traveler contracted the disease at another stop along the way, despite the fact that the South American country experienced a major outbreak of the Andes virus in 2018 that infected 34 people and killed 11.

The Hantavirus outbreak on the Atlantic cruise ship has risen to 8 cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just confirmed eight people infected with the Andean strain of Hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, and is urgently conducting global contact tracing to prevent an outbreak.

On May 6th, the WHO announced that another Swiss male passenger had contracted the disease, bringing the total number of infections linked to the MV Hondius to eight. Three of these cases have resulted in death.

The latest patient, along with his wife, returned from South America at the end of April and proactively reported symptoms to the ship's operator. They are currently hospitalized in isolation in Zurich. Health authorities have transferred three suspected cases (a 56-year-old British citizen, a 41-year-old Dutch national, and a 65-year-old German national) from the ship to the Netherlands for treatment. The operating company, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that this group includes two crew members.

The MV Hondius is currently anchored near Cape Verde with over 100 passengers and crew members under strict COVID-19 prevention regulations. The operator plans to take the ship to the Canary Islands (Spain) for everyone to disembark.

The Spanish Ministry of Health plans to conduct medical checks and provide care for all of these individuals in designated areas to prevent infection of the local population. However, also on May 6th, the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, opposed the plan to land and requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to find a solution.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the patients were infected with a strain of Andes virus endemic to South America. Unlike common Hantavirus strains that are only transmitted through the waste or saliva of rodents, the Andes strain is capable of human-to-human transmission through close contact.

Authorities are tracing 62 people (including healthcare workers, port staff, and crew members) who had contact with the patients and have located 42 of them. However, WHO leaders assess the risk to overall public health as low.

The 108-meter-long ship, carrying approximately 140 passengers and crew, departed from Ushuaia (Argentina) on March 20th. During its journey, the ship passed through Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and numerous islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and is expected to conclude its voyage on May 4th.

According to statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency recorded 890 cases of Hantavirus infection from 1993 to 2023. Of particular note was the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, last year, due to this virus.

Argentina races to trace the source of Hantavirus infection following an outbreak on a cruise ship.

Argentina is urgently investigating the source of an outbreak of a deadly variant of the Andes virus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which claimed the lives of three passengers and infected five others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on May 6th that the Andes variant (ANDV) caused the outbreak on a cruise ship bound for Antarctica. Argentine authorities are now racing against time to determine if the country is the origin of the pathogen.

Concerns have arisen surrounding the 23 passengers who are believed to have disembarked the MV Hondius at Saint Helena, according to the Spanish newspaper El País. A Spanish passenger still on board said the 23 people left the ship more than two weeks ago. They disembarked on April 21 at Saint Helena, 10 days after the first death was recorded, and began their journey home.

"23 people left the ship, moved around freely, and until three days ago, no one had contacted them," the passenger, who requested anonymity, said by phone. According to this person, at least one of the passengers who left the ship appears to have contracted the Hanta virus. "He felt unwell, went for a check-up, and this morning the test result was positive," the passenger said, referring to the Swiss passenger who was confirmed by the WHO as one of the eight people infected with Hantavirus on the ship.

The cruise ship departed from Ushuaia (southern Argentina) on April 1st and recorded its first death on April 11th: a 70-year-old Dutch man. On April 26th, his 69-year-old wife flew from Saint Helena to South Africa, collapsed at Johannesburg airport, and died in hospital. The third passenger, a German woman, died on May 2nd. Currently, one patient is receiving intensive care in South Africa, and the Swiss tourist is hospitalized in his home country.

Argentinian investigators are reviewing the entire travel itinerary of tourists in Ushuaia, as well as their journeys through Uruguay and Chile before boarding the ship. Authorities will isolate close contacts to stop the spread. However, the incubation period, ranging from one to eight weeks, makes it very difficult for experts to determine when patients contracted the virus on land, at a stopover on the island, or on board the ship.

Andes viruses belong to the Hantavirus family (comprising 38 species, 24 of which cause disease in humans) and are spread by rodents. They cause severe pulmonary syndrome with a mortality rate of nearly 30%. This is the only strain capable of direct human-to-human transmission through close and prolonged contact with bodily fluids.

The medical incident on board the MV Hondius occurred against the backdrop of studies in Argentina indicating that climate change is accelerating the spread of Hantavirus. Experts explain that rising temperatures expand the virus's range. As ecosystems change, rodents carrying the virus have better conditions to thrive in more places.

Renowned Argentine infectious disease expert Hugo Pizzi believes Argentina is becoming tropicalized due to climate change. This not only causes disruptions like dengue fever and yellow fever outbreaks, but also promotes the growth of tropical plants, providing an abundant food source for rats. "There is no doubt that, over time, Hantavirus is spreading more and more widely," Pizzi stated.

Trapped in a 'floating outbreak' in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

With land right in front of them but unable to set foot on it, blogger Kasem Hato and over a hundred tourists had to wear masks and eat in their cabins to avoid becoming the next victims of Hantavirus.

From the deck of the MV Hondius, travel blogger Kasem Hato could clearly see the coastline of the West African nation of Cape Verde. The mainland was only a short distance away. However, instead of eagerly packing his bags to leave the ship as scheduled in early May, Hato and more than a hundred other passengers were confined to their cabins. They wore masks, received meals through their doors, and made every effort to protect themselves against a virus outbreak that had just claimed the lives of three fellow travelers,  CNN  reported.

The expedition, which began in South America in late March with the hope of admiring the majestic beauty of the polar regions, has now turned into a health crisis in the middle of the Atlantic. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on May 6th that eight people on board the ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew, have been infected with the Andean strain of Hantavirus.

Of the patients, three have died. Three others have been transferred to the Netherlands for treatment. One patient and his wife are in quarantine in Switzerland.

The outbreak on the MV Hondius once again highlights the threat of zoonotic pathogens. According to statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 890 people have contracted Hantavirus between 1993 and 2023. Yesterday, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health also issued an urgent warning about the risk of infection with this highly fatal pathogen.

Hantavirus circulates naturally in rodents. Infection in humans usually occurs through the inhalation of airborne particles containing rodent waste. Depending on the strain and geographical location, the virus will attack different organs in the body.

In the Americas, patients commonly develop Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome with rapid progression to respiratory failure. In Eurasia, the pathogen primarily causes hemorrhagic fever accompanied by renal syndrome. Currently, there is no specific treatment available globally. Improving survival rates depends entirely on early medical intervention. Medical teams must closely monitor patients clinically and promptly address respiratory or cardiovascular complications.

Faced with unpredictable developments, those stranded on the ship are trying to remain calm and cooperate closely with management. Direct contact is being minimized. Common areas are completely closed off. The crew is dedicating all their time to disinfecting living spaces, while also delivering medical supplies and food to each room.

According to the WHO, person-to-person transmission of this disease is very rare. Maria Van Kerkhove, acting Director of Disease Management at the WHO, stated that the risk of cross-infection on the ship is likely to occur only among those in extremely close contact. In fact, the latest cases have been closely linked to the initial victims, typically couples or healthcare workers directly caring for the patients. In an effort to resolve the crisis, Spanish authorities have agreed to take the ship to the Canary Islands in the coming days.

Despite the pain of losing their companions, most passengers managed to maintain a positive spirit. In videos shared from the ship's deck as they ventured out to get some fresh air, passengers like Jake Rosmarin and Kasem Hato consistently pointed their cameras towards the mainland.

Standing before the vast ocean and gazing towards the distant Cape Verde coastline, Hato continued counting down the days until he could finally set foot safely on solid ground.

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