Health authorities are urgently tracing dozens of individuals who recently disembarked from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius following a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in three deaths and several infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that five out of eight suspected cases are positive. Among the deceased is a 69-year-old Dutch woman who tested positive for the virus.
Andes Strain Identified
The outbreak has drawn international attention because the Andes strain of hantavirus—the only known variant capable of human-to-human transmission—was detected in passengers. South Africa's health minister confirmed the strain in a British man being treated in Johannesburg and in the Dutch woman who died. Passengers have been confined to their cabins to limit exposure, while health officials trace close contacts and monitor infections.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses named after a river in South Korea, belonging to the Hantaviridae family. Over 20 species exist, but only a few cause human disease. Most are carried by rodents, which shed the virus in urine, droppings, and saliva. Humans typically become infected by inhaling contaminated aerosolized particles. The Andes strain, mainly found in Argentina and Chile, is unique for its ability to spread person-to-person, though such transmission is rare and requires close, prolonged contact.
Not Comparable to COVID-19
WHO officials have emphasized that this outbreak is not like the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the WHO, stated that hantavirus spreads through close, intimate contact, not through coughing or sneezing like respiratory viruses. The overall global risk remains very low, with no evidence of spread beyond the ship. However, the virus has an incubation period of up to eight weeks, so more cases may emerge.
Past Outbreak in Argentina
WHO officials point to a 2018–2019 outbreak in Epuyén, Argentina, where a single infected person spread the virus to 34 confirmed cases after a party, resulting in 11 deaths. Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud of the WHO described the cruise ship outbreak as similar, where the virus entered the human population through one infected individual. That outbreak was the first known example of sustained person-to-person transmission linked to a super-spreader event.
Transmission and Symptoms
Hantavirus infection typically occurs in areas where humans and rodents coexist. Infection can also result from rodent bites. Preventive measures include isolating patients, handwashing, tracing contacts, and infection control. The virus causes two serious illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). HPS, common with the Andes strain, begins with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, progressing to headaches, dizziness, chills, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe breathing difficulties. The mortality rate for HPS is 20%–40%. HFRS starts with flu-like symptoms but can lead to kidney failure, low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure. The incubation period ranges from one to eight weeks.
Treatment and Prevention
There is no specific treatment or widely available vaccine for hantavirus. Early medical support improves survival chances. Severe cases may require oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and intensive care. Vaccines for some strains are used in China and South Korea, and research continues on new treatments and vaccines. WHO officials urge cross-border collaboration to trace and contain the outbreak.
