Health officials in multiple countries are racing to track down potential hantavirus patients after an outbreak on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which has left three people dead. The United States has confirmed that individuals in at least three states are being monitored after returning from the affected Dutch-operated vessel.
Deaths and Global Response
The outbreak on the MV Hondius has claimed the lives of a 70-year-old man, his 69-year-old wife, and a German woman. Approximately 150 people from 23 countries were aboard the ship, which has been unable to dock despite the fatalities. Authorities in the US have now revealed that residents in Georgia, California, and Arizona are under observation after disembarking from the cruise.
The Georgia Department of Public Health stated that two individuals who were on the liner are in good health and show no signs of infection. The California Department of Public Health declined to specify the number of monitored residents but noted that there is no information suggesting illness among them, and the public health risk remains low. Arizona health officials confirmed one resident is being monitored without symptoms.
International Contact Tracing
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on May 6 that the Department of State is leading a coordinated response, including direct contact with passengers and diplomatic engagement with health authorities. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also assisting in international contact tracing to limit further spread.
Hantavirus, specifically the Andes strain, spreads through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, saliva, or urine. Human-to-human transmission is possible with this strain. A confirmed case on May 7 involved a man who visited a hospital in Zurich after being alerted by the cruise operator.
In the United Kingdom, two people are self-isolating at home without symptoms. A British man who tested positive was evacuated to a hospital in South Africa. Another British man, Martin Anstee, 56, was among three evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment, along with a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German.
