After the WHO insisted ‘no rodents’ had been found onboard the doomed MV Hondius cruise ship, experts are starting to think the virus is an ultra-rare ‘human-to-human’ one
Experts think they’ve sourced the suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the doomed MV Hondius cruise ship – and it’s bad news for anyone who likes to bonk amidships.
The grim disease has killed three people and sickened at least seven others, with WHO agents recently boarding the luxury ship to evacuate two of the ill. The deadly virus is usually contracted from the feces, urine or saliva of infected rats or mice – but now experts think it could be something else.
Earlier today (Tuesday, May 5), the World Health Organisation insisted that no rodents have been found on the stranded liner. This means that there could be an “ultra-rare” subtype of the hantavirus knocking about the 353-foot ship which is transmitted “person-to-person”.
“The Andes virus – that one specific subtype of the hantavirus – in Argentina, where they were, is the one that’s transmitted person-to-person,” physician Zaid Fadul, a former Air Force flight surgeon, said. “And that’s where a lot of anxiety in this case is coming from.”
The Andes strain of the hantavirus, with a mortality rate nearing 40%, could rapidly escalate into a worst-case scenario in a confined space such as the 80-cabin, 353-foot ship, the doctor warned.
“And that’s why everyone is so scared,” he stated. On Tuesday, the WHO confirmed it as the working theory, suggesting passengers may have been infected prior to boarding the vessel.
“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention.
The Dutch cruise liner set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 20 March for its weeks-long “Atlantic Odyssey” journey before the suspected hantavirus outbreak took a fatal turn.
Three passengers have since passed away – one confirmed from hantavirus – and another is battling for his life, while the ship carrying approximately 150 passengers remained marooned off West Africa on Monday. Efforts were underway to evacuate two more critically ill passengers as well.
“If it is the Andes virus … you’ve got 150 people stuck on a cruise ship in close contact,” cautioned Fadul, leader of the doctors group Bespoke Concierge.