GUWAHATI: At least two Indian nationals are among the crew members of the Dutch vessel MV Hondius, which has reported a hantavirus outbreak with eight cases and three deaths so far, according to reports.
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In a press conference organised on Thursday, May 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that eight cases have been identified, of which five have been confirmed as hantavirus infections. The remaining three cases are suspected to be linked to the same strain.
The luxury cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on April 1 from Ushuaia in Argentina and is scheduled to arrive at Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10.
The virus involved has been identified as the Andes virus, a strain found in Latin America and the only hantavirus known to allow limited human-to-human transmission, typically through close and prolonged contact.
Speaking on the incident, WHO said that while the situation is serious, the overall public health risk remains low. He also noted that additional cases may emerge due to the virus’s incubation period.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the UN health agency’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeus said, "While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.” He noted that given the incubation period, “it’s possible that more cases may be reported."
Hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents and can infect humans through exposure to contaminated urine, droppings, or saliva. In rare cases involving the Andes strain, person-to-person transmission has been observed, particularly among household members, intimate partners, and healthcare workers during extended contact.
