A recent outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius has raised alarms, leading to the evacuation of passengers back to the U.S. and other countries. Here’s a closer look at the situation and the steps taken to ensure public safety.
Latest Developments
Seventeen Americans and one British citizen who had been aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in the U.S. on Monday following the outbreak of hantavirus. Reports indicated that one American displayed symptoms while another “tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus,” as confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday night.
Both passengers were placed in biocontainment units during transport as a safety precaution. The individual who tested positive was asymptomatic, according to a statement from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The flight landed at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, where an ambulance and several buses transported the evacuees to the National Quarantine Unit at the university.
In related news, France’s Prime Minister reported that a French citizen also exhibited symptoms during the repatriation flight. All five passengers from the flight have been placed under strict isolation and will undergo testing. The French Health Minister later confirmed that the woman tested positive for hantavirus and her condition has worsened.
Currently, there have been at least nine confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus associated with this outbreak on the MV Hondius, which also included three fatalities—a Dutch couple and a German woman. Those affected have tested positive for the rare Andes strain of the virus, which is capable of person-to-person transmission, unlike most hantaviruses that are primarily rodent-borne.
A Complex and Careful Disembarkation
The MV Hondius, which was carrying nearly 150 individuals from over 15 countries, including the 17 Americans, departed from Cape Verde to Granadilla, following Spain’s agreement to host the ship.
Passengers began to disembark on Sunday morning after the ship docked in Spain’s Canary Islands. The evacuation was meticulously organized by nationality, with Spanish nationals being the first to leave, followed by flights for French and British passengers.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s operator, stated that passengers and some of the approximately 60 crew members were evacuated using small boats that could carry five to ten people at a time.
After disembarkation, individuals were screened for symptoms. Authorities confirmed that neither the passengers nor crew members had contact with the local population on Tenerife prior to boarding their evacuation flights. A video shared by Spain’s defense ministry depicted the inside of a repatriation flight, highlighting surfaces wrapped in plastic and crew members in protective gear.
The operation was overseen by Spain’s health and interior ministers, along with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Although health officials have indicated that the public risks from the outbreak remain low, evacuees and port workers donned face masks, hazmat suits, and respirators throughout the evacuation process. After disembarkation, a limited crew will board the ship to restock supplies before it travels to Rotterdam, Netherlands, expected to take five days. The body of a deceased passenger will remain on board, with plans to disinfect the ship upon arrival in Rotterdam, according to Spanish authorities.
Quarantine Protocols
The evacuation of U.S. nationals took place last on Sunday. The CDC dispatched a team of epidemiologists and medical professionals to the Canary Islands to assess the exposure risk for each American passenger and to provide recommendations for necessary monitoring.
After being evacuated from the Hondius, 18 individuals—17 Americans and one British citizen—were transported back to the U.S. on a flight organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and HHS. They were taken to a specialized biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The medical center assured that the passenger who tested positive was “managed separately from other passengers during transport using appropriate biocontainment measures.” There is no public mention of the passenger experiencing symptoms.
Michael Wadman, medical director of the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, noted that each American will have their own room for an unspecified quarantine period.
CDC acting Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya mentioned that seven Americans who disembarked earlier have been back in the U.S. for approximately two weeks and have spread across various states. Health officials are monitoring these individuals, and none have shown symptoms to date. One of these individuals is a Northern California resident, as confirmed by the Santa Clara Public Health Department.
Countries have created their own quarantine measures. British authorities indicated that their citizens will be hospitalized for observation upon return, while the 14 Spaniards will be quarantined at a military hospital in Madrid. The French Prime Minister stated that appropriate isolation measures will be enacted for those in close contact, alongside measures to safeguard the public.
Officials Insist the Public is at Low Risk
Hantaviruses, according to the CDC, are transmitted to humans via contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Symptoms may take up to eight weeks to manifest following exposure.
The WHO has identified the Andes strain of the virus, native to Latin America, as the only strain capable of human-to-human transmission, with Dr. Tedros assessing public risk as “low.”
During a Sunday morning briefing, he reassured the public, stating that Americans “shouldn’t worry” about the return of the cruise passengers. He emphasized that this is not akin to COVID-19, and there’s no need for panic. Years of research into the virus and its behavior have informed this assessment.
Dr. Tedros’ evaluation found support from the CDC’s acting director. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb noted in an interview that U.S. passengers returning this week are likely nearing the end of the virus’s incubation period.
Outbreak Timeline
The exact source of the outbreak remains under investigation. The Dutch couple who passed away, a 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife, reportedly traveled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay on a bird-watching expedition prior to boarding the cruise. These areas are known habitats for the rodent species that carry the Andes virus.
The man exhibited symptoms on April 6 and died onboard on April 11; unfortunately, no samples were collected because his symptoms resembled those of other respiratory viruses, and hantavirus was not initially suspected.
The woman subsequently left the ship when it docked at the British territory of St. Helena, showing severe symptoms during a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 25. She passed away the next day. Testing confirmed she had contracted hantavirus.
A German woman developed symptoms on April 28 and died aboard the ship on May 2, as per WHO reports.
Three additional patients were evacuated to the Netherlands for emergency care this week. A Swiss man exhibiting symptoms post-disembarkation has been taken to Zurich for treatment. A British man was medically evacuated to South Africa, whereas another British national who left the ship is currently hospitalized on Tristan da Cunha.
Oceanwide Expeditions reported that 32 passengers disembarked in St. Helena, including the Dutch woman who died shortly afterward. American passengers who returned to the U.S. prior to the outbreak are being closely monitored by public health authorities across multiple states.
The Hondius began its voyage on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina, visiting several locations in the South Atlantic, including the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and returning to St. Helena from April 21 to April 24 before anchoring off Cape Verde for several days, then heading to the Canary Islands.
Key Takeaways
- 17 Americans and one British citizen evacuated from MV Hondius due to hantavirus outbreak.
- At least 9 confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases linked to the incident, including 3 fatalities.
- Evacuations were carefully managed, with biocontainment measures in place for symptomatic individuals.
- Health officials assess that the public risk remains low despite the outbreak.
- The source of the outbreak is under investigation, with a focus on rodent exposure from previous travels of some passengers.
FAQ
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a family of viruses typically transmitted to humans through contact with rodent urine, feces, or saliva.
How can hantavirus be transmitted between humans?
The Andes strain of hantavirus is the only known variant that can be transmitted through human contact.
What symptoms should individuals be aware of?
Symptoms can take up to eight weeks to develop and can include severe respiratory issues.
What precautions are being taken for evacuees?
Evacuees are monitored in biocontainment units and are under quarantine as a precautionary measure.
Is there a public health risk from this outbreak?
Health officials have indicated that the risk to the general public remains low.
As this situation unfolds, public health responses are being closely monitored. Authorities are working diligently to trace contacts and mitigate any potential risks associated with the outbreak.
