A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses. The ship is now docked in Tenerife, and passengers are being repatriated to their home countries.

Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne disease. The Andes strain identified in this outbreak can cause limited human-to-human transmission, but experts stress it is not comparable to COVID-19. The incubation period is 6-8 weeks.

Of the 147 people on board, 7 are confirmed cases and 2 are probable. Symptomatic patients are hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Asymptomatic passengers are being sent home or into isolation based on medical assessments.

Four German nationals arrived in Frankfurt; some were hospitalized, others sent into self-isolation. 14 Spanish passengers flew to Madrid and are isolated in a hospital. Passengers from Turkey, Belgium, Greece, the UK, and Argentina are being transferred to medical facilities.

Five French nationals were placed in strict isolation after one developed symptoms on the flight. One of 17 US passengers tested weakly positive in Cape Verde. The WHO recommends 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts.

Experts emphasize the need for international coordination and contact tracing to prevent further spread. The outbreak is reminiscent of a 2018-19 Andes strain outbreak in Argentina that infected 34 people and killed 11.

Source: www.dw.com