Hantavirus on the Hondius cruiser. Three people are dead

On board the MV cruiser Hondiusthat ended voyage a suspected hantavirus outbreak has been reported by the Atlantic in Cape Verde. Three people died, and subsequent cases of infection are investigated by the World Health Organization.

Suspected outbreak in the Atlantic

Tour Hondius, belonging to Oceanwide Expeditions, sailed from Ushuaia, Argentina towards Cape Verde. Voyage It was an expeditionary character, but its tip turned into a sanitary crisis at sea.

According to information provided by the World Health Organisation, one confirmed and five suspected cases of hantavirus infection have been reported. Three people died. Among the sick is a 69-year-old UK citizen, treated in the Johannesburg intensive care ward.

Passenger deaths and medical evacuation

Among the victims was a Dutch marriage. A 70-year-old man suddenly fell ill on board. He experienced fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. He died after reaching St Helena Island.

His 69-year-old wife also fell ill on a bad cruise. She was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a hospital in Johannesburg. Oceanwide Expeditions reported that the third victim was also a citizen of the Netherlands.

The ship is waiting for the authorities to decide.

Hondius remains near Prai, the capital of Cape Verde. The shipowner reported that two crew members require urgent medical assistance, but their landing depends on the consent of local health authorities.

This shows how difficult it is when a suspected infectious disease appears on a passenger ship far from the main medical centers. Every decision must combine the safety of the sick, passengers, crew and port state.

What is Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are RNA viruses mainly transmitted by rodents, including rats, mice and nornicas. Man can be banned primarily by contact with feces, urine, or saliva of infected animals, as well as by inhalation of dust contaminated with such material.

Infection may lead to serious diseases, including haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The course of disease depends on the variety of virus and the condition of the patient. In Europe, among others, it is noted. virus infection Puumala and Dobrava.

Infections occur most often in places where infected rodents occur. The risk increases with contact with contaminated rooms, food supplies, water or dust. It's very rare to move an hantavirus between people.

The period from exposure to the virus to first symptoms may be between one and a few weeks. Therefore, further cases of illness may be diagnosed after the end of the cruise.

MV Hondius

Hondius This is a 106.6 m long polar cruise. According to the shipowner, it can take 170 passengers in 80 cabins. The crew has 57 people, and there are 13 guides and a doctor on board.

According to the South African Ministry of Health in the cruise participated About 150 tourists from different countries.