WHO declares cruise-linked hantavirus outbreak officially over

 

The World Health Organization has officially announced the end of the hantavirus outbreak after the final person monitored for possible exposure completed quarantine and tested negative.

A total of 13 people were infected and three died during the outbreak. Health authorities confirmed it involved the rare Andes hantavirus strain, commonly found in Argentina and Chile, with the cases linked to the cruise ship Hondius, which departed from Argentina on April 1.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the last person identified as a contact of a hantavirus case on the cruise ship MV Hondius had completed quarantine, tested negative, and returned home.

He added that no new infections have been reported since May 25, and on that basis, the World Health Organization officially declared the hantavirus outbreak over.

The Dutch-flagged cruise ship sailed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in April, visiting remote South Atlantic islands, including Tristan da Cunha, before continuing to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers returned home by air.

The vessel later arrived in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on May 18. After undergoing cleaning and disinfection, it was cleared to resume operations on May 30.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health authorities identified and monitored more than 650 contacts across 33 countries and territories during the outbreak.

He added that the World Health Organization will continue studying the outbreak and is coordinating research involving 21 countries to improve future diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines for hantavirus.

Hantavirus is mainly spread through rodents. People can become infected after coming into contact with rats or mice, or with their urine, droppings, or saliva.

The virus can also spread through the air when contaminated dust is stirred up while cleaning areas infested with rodents.The Andes virus is the only known strain of hantavirus that can be transmitted between people through close and prolonged contact.

Unlike other hantavirus strains, it is capable of spreading from one person to another under certain conditions.

Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure and often include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and abdominal discomfort.

In more serious cases, the disease can quickly worsen, causing coughing, difficulty breathing, and fluid buildup in the lungs.

There is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, so medical care mainly focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting the patient during recovery.