According to a report by Xinhua News Agency citing foreign media, on May 6 local time, the World Health Organization stated that a new case of Hantavirus infection was reported on the cruise ship “Hondius.” As of May 6, a total of 8 cases had been found, of which 3 were confirmed as Hantavirus through laboratory testing.
In other news from CCTV, the operator of the cruise ship where Hantavirus infections recently occurred said that the Dutch government will attempt to send the two suspected cases still on board back to the Netherlands for treatment. A WHO official stated on the 4th that the risk posed by this infection incident to public health is low, and “there is no need to panic.”
The cruise operator “Oceanwide Expeditions” confirmed in a latest statement dated the 3rd that a “serious medical incident” had occurred on its cruise ship “Hondius,” resulting in three deaths so far, two of which occurred on board and one after disembarkation.
The statement said that the Dutch government has agreed to lead a joint operation to transport two symptomatic individuals from the “Hondius” from Cape Verde to the Netherlands, while also planning to send the body of one deceased male passenger and a passenger who was in close contact with the deceased and is currently asymptomatic back to the Netherlands.
“Oceanwide Expeditions,” headquartered in the Netherlands, specializes in polar expedition cruises. The involved cruise ship “Hondius” flies the Dutch flag. According to Dutch sources, the deceased include two Dutch passengers, and the two suspected cases still on board are crew members.
The “Hondius” was originally scheduled to sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Atlantic island nation of Cape Verde and is now anchored off the coast of Cape Verde. Local doctors have boarded the ship to assess the condition of the two suspected cases, but local authorities have not yet approved their transfer to shore.
“Oceanwide Expeditions” stated: “All matters regarding the transfer and medical examination of passengers need to be communicated with local health authorities, and we are closely following up.” The company said that it is currently unable to confirm whether the three earlier deaths were caused by Hantavirus, nor have the two patients still on board been diagnosed with Hantavirus infection, and the exact cause is still under investigation.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said on the 4th that this infection incident “still poses a low risk to the general public, and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.”
According to the WHO, Hantavirus infection is usually associated with environmental exposure, i.e., contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents. Although human-to-human transmission of the virus is rare, it is still possible and can lead to severe respiratory disease, requiring close monitoring, medical support, and emergency response for patients.
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