The Ministry of Health (Minsal) ordered the preventive isolation of two Chileans who were on board the cruise ship Hondius. The measure was taken after detecting a hantavirus outbreak on the vessel, which set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.
“Although both individuals have no symptoms attributable to hantavirus and are healthy, due to the situation on the ship, they are undergoing epidemiological monitoring that includes virus testing,” the Chilean institution reported.
“The Ministry reiterates its commitment to keeping the public informed of any relevant developments on this matter. Likewise, it reminds that the Law on Patient Rights and Duties prohibits disclosing any clinical, personal, or identity information of individuals under health monitoring or care,” it added.
Previously, Minsal ruled out that Chile is the place of origin of the hantavirus infections reported on the cruise ship. According to the agency, after analyzing the incubation periods of the patients, it was determined that exposure to the virus did not occur in Chilean territory.
It should be recalled that theWorld Health Organization (WHO) indicated that there is suspicion of an uncommon person-to-person transmission among very close contacts on board the luxury vessel.
For its part, theMinistry of Health of Argentina detailed that the deceased Dutch couple completed a four-month tour of South America, including stays in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, before sailing from Ushuaia to Cape Verde, Africa.
The couple, after re-entering Argentina on March 27 from Uruguay, traveled to the city of Ushuaia to board on April 1. Only days later, the 70-year-old man showed flu-like symptoms, dying on board the cruise ship 10 days later.
Recently, the Government of Spain announced that it will receive the Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, in the Canary Islands within three to four days. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, will arrive at the Port of Granadilla de Abona, south of Tenerife.
