• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Eight Hantavirus cases, three deaths reported on MV Hondius.
  2. WHO oversees safe disembarkation in Spain's Canary Islands.
  3. Extensive screening, contact tracing for all cruise passengers.

Hantavirus Outbreak: Concerns over the outbreak of Hantavirus have increased after eight cases were detected among passengers linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus present in Spain overseeing the safe disembarkation of passengers and crew.

Hantavirus Outbreak: How Many Cases So Far?

According to the latest tally by WHO, there are eight reported cases and three deaths. Out of the eight cases, 6 cases are confirmed as Hantavirus Outbreak: virus infection, while 4 patients remain hospitalised. One previously suspected individual tested negative and was removed from the case count.

Ghebreyesus, who reached Spain on Saturday said he will join government officials in overseeing the safe disembarkation of passengers, crew, and health experts from the MV Hondius in Tenerife. In a post on X, he informed that he remains in direct contact with the ship captain, Jan Dobrogowski, and WHO expert Freddy Banza-Mutoka, who reported that no new people onboard are currently showing symptoms of Hantavirus.

WHO Rolls Out Response Plan

The cruise ship is currently heading to the Canary Islands, where authorities are preparing a coordinated disembarkation plan. WHO, alongside experts from the Netherlands and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), is overseeing the operation. Health teams onboard are screening passengers for symptoms such as fever and fatigue. They will be screened on arrival as well.

During a live streaming, WHO Technical Officer Anais Legand said the disembarkation will be carried out safely. She added that medical teams are reviewing the exposure history of each person on board to identify those who may be at higher risk of infection.

Contact tracing efforts will also be carried out, focusing on identifying everyone who may have been exposed aboard the MV Hondius. Experts will also assess factors such as the virus’s incubation period, peak infectious stage, and individual risk profiles to determine who may be more likely to develop illness.

Can It Be Contained?

As there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for Hantavirus, care mainly focuses on managing symptoms such as fever, muscle pain and breathing difficulties. While concerns remain, the WHO has asserted that the current risk to the population of the Canary Islands and globally remains low. Moreover, it can be contained with robust public health measures, focusing on early detection and isolation of cases.

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