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Eight Confirmed or Suspected Andes Hantavirus Cases Linked to MV Hondius Cruise Ship
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is en route to Spain's Canary Islands with around 150 people aboard following an Andes strain hantavirus outbreak that began after the vessel departed from Argentina. The World Health Organization has confirmed five cases and three deaths while stating the risk of widespread transmission remains low.
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The World Health Organization has confirmed five cases of Andes hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship and reported three suspected cases, according to the WHO chief. Three people have died from the strain. The ship, which departed from parts of Argentina before the cases were identified, is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions and is now heading to Spain's Canary Islands with around 150 people on board.
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WHO officials stated that the risk of widespread transmission is low and that the outbreak will not cause a Covid-style pandemic. The Andes strain is typically found in South America. Health experts are conducting contact tracing across several countries for passengers and crew who have been on the vessel.
Oceanwide Expeditions said in a statement that it is working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked since March 20. The company added, "We are doing everything possible to support those affected and to provide full transparency to health authorities tracking every individual who has been on board."
A passenger-filmed video from April 12 shows the MV Hondius captain announcing a first death that was initially believed to be non-infectious. About 40 passengers from the MV Hondius disembarked on St. Helena, according to officials. American passengers who left the ship in April are being monitored for hantavirus in at least three states.
One infected passenger had briefly boarded a plane to the Netherlands before she died. A Dutch flight attendant was among those tested in connection with the outbreak.
Passenger Martin Anstee, who was evacuated from the MV Hondius, told Sky News from his hospital bed: "I feel like I've been hit by a truck." The MV Hondius remains at sea while contact tracing continues. No publicly released evidence has documented sustained human-to-human transmission beyond the vessel.
