WHO declares hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship over

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship voyage officially over, following the completion of monitoring and quarantine measures for all identified contacts.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the final contact of a person exposed to the virus aboard the MV Hondius had completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home. No new cases have been reported since May 25, and “the WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak over,” he said.

The outbreak involved 13 confirmed infections and resulted in three deaths. It was linked to the Andes virus, a rare strain of hantavirus known to circulate in South America.

The vessel had departed from Argentina on April 1. According to earlier WHO findings, the first two identified cases had “travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present”.

Health experts believe the virus may, in this instance, have been transmitted between people in close contact — an uncommon mode of spread for hantaviruses.

Authorities traced more than 650 contacts across 33 countries and territories, all of whom were monitored as part of containment efforts.

The WHO said it would continue working with governments and partners to better understand both the outbreak and hantavirus transmission more broadly.

WHO medical officer Dr Diana Rojas Alverez warned that the risk has not disappeared. “Andes virus and other hantaviruses are still a public health risk for South America, and some other endemic areas...

“What we need to continue doing is to keep monitoring this virus, keep preparing for further spread.”

Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents, most commonly by inhaling airborne particles from their urine, droppings or saliva.

Symptoms include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortness of breath. They usually develop within two to four weeks after exposure, although onset can take longer than a month, which explains the extended quarantine period imposed on passengers.

Passengers were not medically evacuated during the incident. They disembarked in Tenerife, Spain, in May before being flown back to their home countries.

By Tamilla Hasanova