Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization said it suspects some rare human-to-human transmission among close contacts on a luxury cruise ship after seven confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases.
Cases and patient status
A Dutch couple and a German national have died, officials said. A British national was evacuated from the ship and is in intensive care in South Africa, while three more suspected cases affect people still on board, including one person with a mild fever.
WHO assessment of infection source
The U.N. health body said its working assumption is that the initial case involving the Dutch couple, who joined the boat in Argentina, was infected off the ship, possibly during activities such as bird watching, and that human-to-human transmission may have occurred on board.
Ship location and restrictions
The cruise ship is marooned off Cape Verde and has not been allowed to put passengers ashore.
Evacuation plans and route
The WHO said the focus is to evacuate two sick passengers still onboard to the Netherlands, after which the ship would continue to the Canary Islands.
Public risk and transmission details
Human-to-human transmission is uncommon, and the WHO reiterated that the risk to the wider public is low. The disease is typically spread from infected rodents and people are usually infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva.
Possible strain involved
The WHO said limited spread among close contacts has been observed in some previous outbreaks involving the Andes strain, which it believes could be involved in this instance. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters in Geneva that human-to-human transmission may be happening among very close contacts, including people who have shared cabins.
Testing and ship departure details
Van Kerkhove said the agency’s working assumption is that the hantavirus on the ship is the Andes virus, which spreads in South America, including Argentina, and that testing is under way. The Hondius left Ushuaia in southern Argentina in March.
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