Worldwide race to trace passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship

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, and anyone who has come into close contact with them since. Five cases have now been confirmed, including three deaths, following an outbreak on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius, the World Health Organization has said. The UN health agency also said the outbreak is not the start of pandemic like Covid six years ago, because this hantavirus strain spreads through “close, intimate contact”.

But given the incubation period of this disease – which can be up to six weeks – it is possible more cases may be reported, the WHO said. About 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries are reported to have initially been aboard the vessel, but dozens got off on the island of St Helena on 24 April. The luxury cruise, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on 1 April in Ushuaia, Argentina, and is expected to arrive in Spain’s Canary Islands on 10 May.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents – but in the latest outbreak the transmission between people was documented for the first time, the WHO said. The WHO is in touch with officials in at least 12 countries who are monitoring citizens that returned home. Those countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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One expert told the BBC the outbreak response has been “highly chaotic and uncoordinated” but there was little general risk to the public. Here is what we know about the countries affected so far: UKThree British nationals have suspected hantavirus.Seven Brits disembarked the MV Hondius in St Helena on 24 April before the first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on 4 May, with four remaining there.One patient is on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.Two other British men have confirmed cases. One is Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer, who remains in a stable condition in the Netherlands after being evacuated from the ship on Wednesday, while the other remains in intensive care after being flown to South Africa last month.They do not have symptoms but are in contact with health officials.

It is understood that medical staff will be sent to the islands to provide support.Two other British nationals are already self-isolating at home in the UK after potential exposure. They are doing so voluntarily and do not have any symptoms.USThe health agencies of five states have said they are monitoring people who were on the ship: two each in Georgia and Texas, one each in Arizona and Virginia, and an unspecified number in California, according to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.None of the individuals were showing symptoms, the health departments said. Seven Brits disembarked the MV Hondius in St Helena on 24 April before the first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on 4 May, with four remaining there.One patient is on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.Two other British men have confirmed cases.

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