Lead

Health authorities across the globe are racing to trace dozens of people who disembarked from a cruise ship before an outbreak of hantavirus was detected, as well as anyone who has come into close contact with them since. The virus has killed three people on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius, and eight others are suspected to have contracted the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and is expected to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands in the coming days. But dozens of passengers got off the ship on April 24 on the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena, before the first confirmed case was reported.

Coverage Comparison

The number of passengers who disembarked at St Helena has been a point of discrepancy among sources. The Dutch government said around 40 passengers had disembarked there, according to ABC Australia and the South China Morning Post. However, Oceanwide Expeditions said 29 passengers left the ship, a figure cited by both the South China Morning Post and BBC. Deutsche Welle reported that the cruise company said 30 guests had disembarked on Saint Helena on April 24, and that the Dutch government had reported 40 guests disembarking, with their whereabouts now unknown. Oceanwide Expeditions said it has contacted all disembarked guests and is working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked at various stops since March 20.

The number of confirmed cases also varies across reports. BBC reported that the WHO has confirmed five cases, including three deaths. ABC Australia cited the WHO as saying eight others are suspected to have contracted the virus. Al Jazeera also reported three deaths and suspected cases.

Key Claims

  • Three people died in the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius: a Dutch couple and a German national, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
  • Eight others, including a Swiss citizen, are suspected to have contracted the virus, according to the WHO, as reported by ABC Australia and the South China Morning Post.
  • One of those who disembarked at St Helena was the wife of a Dutchman who died on board the ship on April 11. She fell sick herself and died before she could reach the Netherlands, as reported by ABC Australia and the South China Morning Post.
  • Dutch airline KLM said it had taken the woman off a plane in Johannesburg on April 25 due to her deteriorating medical condition, a claim reported by ABC Australia and the South China Morning Post.
  • The strain of hantavirus found in the victims has been confirmed to be the Andes strain, which can spread from person to person through close contact. Experts stress such contagion is very rare, but the outbreak has put health authorities on high alert, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • The incubation period of the disease can be up to six weeks, so more cases may be reported, the WHO said, as reported by BBC.
  • The WHO is in touch with officials in at least 12 countries who are monitoring citizens that returned home, including Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as reported by BBC.

Perspectives

WHO: The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a statement on Saturday: "I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID. The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now." This statement was reported by Al Jazeera.

Oceanwide Expeditions: The cruise company said in a statement on Thursday that all passengers with symptoms had been taken off the ship, adding: "No symptomatic individuals are present on board." The company also said the three individuals who were airlifted away "are now in the care of medical professionals," and that it was working to trace all passengers who had been on board and possibly had contact with the virus, as reported by Deutsche Welle.