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The World Health Organization (WHO) said there are currently no signs that a hantavirus outbreak linked to an expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean will grow into a significantly larger health emergency, although additional infections among passengers could still emerge.
The outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius has so far been linked to 11 suspected cases, nine of which have already been confirmed, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Two additional cases are expected to test positive.
Speaking alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on Tuesday, Tedros said all suspected and confirmed patients had been isolated and placed under medical supervision. He also noted that authorities had managed to locate all passengers who had left the vessel, including one traveler in a remote location in the United Kingdom reached through what he described as difficult operations.
Tedros said the WHO turned to Spain for assistance after the outbreak overwhelmed the response capacity of Cabo Verde, the island nation nearest to the ship when the infections were first detected in the Atlantic.
Spain later coordinated a multinational evacuation and quarantine operation alongside the WHO and the European Union after the vessel reached the Canary Islands on Sunday.
Sanchez described the operation as successful, saying more than 120 passengers of different nationalities had been repatriated through 10 special flights without incident. Responding to criticism at home over allowing the ship to dock in the Canary Islands, Sanchez said Spain had answered a call for help, adding: “This world does not need more selfishness or more fear. What it needs are countries willing to step forward in solidarity.”
The outbreak has claimed the lives of three passengers since late April.
The WHO has recommended a strict 42-day quarantine period for all passengers and close contacts, beginning on May 10 and continuing through June 21.
Meanwhile, Dutch health officials said 12 healthcare workers in the Netherlands had failed to fully follow safety procedures while treating a patient linked to the ship. As a result, they will also undergo quarantine, according to Radboud University Medical Centre.
Spanish health authorities said Tuesday that one passenger quarantined in Madrid had developed mild fever and respiratory symptoms after initially testing positive for hantavirus. Officials said the patient remained in stable condition and had shown no signs of worsening health.
Hantavirus is a rare infectious disease most commonly spread through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their droppings. However, health officials said the strain involved in the MV Hondius outbreak may also spread from person to person, raising additional concerns among authorities.
According to the WHO, the disease can carry a fatality rate of up to 40% to 50%, particularly among elderly people and those with underlying health conditions.
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