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Rachel V Thomas

Hantavirus Outbreak: WHO Flags 6 Suspected Cases; How The Rare Rodent-Borne Virus Spreads

There have been six suspected cases of <span>hantavirus</span> — a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents — of which three have died, said the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The suspected <span>hantavirus outbreak</span> occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship, Oceanwide Expeditions, in the Atlantic Ocean. It was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The three people dead include a Dutch husband and wife, as well as a German national, according to the operator of the ship. 

Speaking to the media, Maria <span>Van Kerkhove</span>, Director (a.i) Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, WHO, said that the WHO is working with countries involved in the response to the hantavirus cases onboard a ship off Cabo Verde, as well as the ship's operators, and carrying out risk assessments to guide next steps. 

“As of the fourth of May, there have been six suspected cases reported. Three cases have unfortunately died. One patient is currently ill in the ICU in South Africa, while two patients remain on board and will be evacuated for medical treatment. About a hundred and fifty people, including passengers and crew, are on the ship,” Van Kerkhove said. 

The patient in the ICU is a 69-year-old UK national.   

“The patient is still in critical condition in isolation but receiving medical attention,” according to a statement by South Africa’s Department of Health (DoH). 

The WHO noted that it is working with countries to evacuate the two sick people on board to the Netherlands for medical care.  

“At present, there are no other symptomatic people on the ship, but this is being carefully monitored,” Van Kerkhove said.  

Adding that laboratory tests are also ongoing, she stated that “based on current information and what we know about the virus from previous outbreaks, the overall risk to the public is low.”

<strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/who-says-suspected-hantavirus-killed-3-on-cruise-ship-symptoms-risks-and-prevention-article-154238794" data-type="tilCustomLink">Hantavirus Kills 3 on Cruise Ship: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention</a>

<h2>Hantavirus: How did the outbreak begin? </h2>

Some of the passengers onboard the Oceanwide Expeditions, travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina, with some 150 passengers, began experiencing serious health complications while the ship was travelling past South African shores.  Initially, it was considered a severe acute respiratory infection; later, three people died. 

“[The] first patient was a 70-year-old male passenger who suddenly became ill on the ship en route from Ushuaia to <span>St Helena</span> Island. Unfortunately, he passed away on arrival at St Helena Island. His mortal remains are in St Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands,”," South Africa’s DoH said.

<ul><li>fever, </li><li>headache, </li><li>abdominal pain, </li><li>diarrhea. </li></ul>“The second affected passenger was a 69-year-old female, the spouse of the first patient, who collapsed at the OR Tambo International Airport while trying to connect a flight to her home country of the Netherlands. She was taken to a nearby health facility around Kempton Park for medical attention and, unfortunately, passed away. Laboratory test results for the patient are outstanding,” the department explained. 

<h2><span rel="noindex">Hantavirus Alert</span>: 890 US Cases </h2>

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<span>CDC</span>) noted that by the end of 2023, 890 cases of hantavirus disease were reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993. 

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) became a nationally notifiable disease in 1995 in the US. 

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/cdc-flags-surge-in-us-tuberculosis-outbreaks-cases-double-since-2017-article-154225190" data-type="tilCustomLink">CDC Flags Surge in US Tuberculosis Outbreaks, Cases Double Since 2017</a>

<h2>What Is Hantavirus? </h2>As per the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of these cases are in Asia, particularly China. Most are sporadic or occur in small clusters, linked to contact with infected rodents. 

“Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Infection with hantaviruses is found in many parts of the world. Thousands of infections are estimated to occur each year," Van Kerkhove said.

Infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location. In the Americas, infection has been known to lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a rapidly progressive condition affecting the lungs and heart, while in Europe and Asia, hantaviruses have been known to cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which primarily affects the kidneys and blood vessels. 

Notably, the WHO has not specified the type of hantavirus or syndrome in the cruise incident, but did mention respiratory risks. 

The hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through 

<ul><li>exposure to their urine, </li><li>droppings, </li><li>saliva, </li><li>less commonly through a scratch or bite. </li></ul> 

According to the CDC, symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially presenting fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, it can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs. 

The CDC reports that about one-third of individuals who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease may not survive. 

<h2>Hantavirus: How Can You Reduce Your Risk? </h2>

You can reduce your risk by eliminating and minimizing your contact with rodents in your home, workplace, or campsite.  

<ul><li>keeping homes and workplaces clean </li><li>sealing openings that allow rodents to enter buildings </li><li>storing food securely </li><li>using safe cleaning practices in areas contaminated by rodents </li><li>avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings </li><li>dampening of contaminated areas before cleaning </li><li>strengthening hand hygiene practices.</li></ul>

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There have been six suspected cases of hantavirus — a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted primarily by rodents — of which three have died, said the World Health Organization (WHO). The suspected hantavirus outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship, Oceanwide Expeditions, in the Atlantic Ocean. It was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The three people dead include a Dutch husband and wife, as well as a German national, according to the operator of the ship.  Speaking to the media, Maria Van Kerkhove, Director (a.i) Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, WHO, said that the WHO is working with countries involved in the response to the hantavirus cases onboard a ship off Cabo Verde, as well as the ship's operators, and carrying out risk assessments to guide next steps. “As of the fourth of May, there have been six suspected cases reported. Three cases have unfortunately died. One patient is currently ill in the ICU in South Africa, while two patients remain on board and will be evacuated for medical treatment. About a hundred and fifty people, including passengers and crew, are on the ship,” Van Kerkhove said. The patient in the ICU is a 69-year-old UK national.    “The patient is still in critical condition in isolation but receiving medical attention,” according to a statement by South Africa’s Department of Health (DoH).  The WHO noted that it is working with countries to evacuate the two sick people on board to the Netherlands for medical care.  “At present, there are no other symptomatic people on the ship, but this is being carefully monitored,” Van Kerkhove said.  Adding that laboratory tests are also ongoing, she stated that “based on current information and what we know about the virus from previous outbreaks, the overall risk to the public is low.”Also Read: Hantavirus Kills 3 on Cruise Ship: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention  Hantavirus: How did the outbreak begin? Some of the passengers onboard the Oceanwide Expeditions, travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina, with some 150 passengers, began experiencing serious health complications while the ship was travelling past South African shores.  Initially, it was considered a severe acute respiratory infection; later, three people died. “[The] first patient was a 70-year-old male passenger who suddenly became ill on the ship en route from Ushuaia to St Helena Island. Unfortunately, he passed away on arrival at St Helena Island. His mortal remains are in St Helena, awaiting repatriation to the Netherlands,”," South Africa’s DoH said.The initial symptoms included:fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea. “The second affected passenger was a 69-year-old female, the spouse of the first patient, who collapsed at the OR Tambo International Airport while trying to connect a flight to her home country of the Netherlands. She was taken to a nearby health facility around Kempton Park for medical attention and, unfortunately, passed away. Laboratory test results for the patient are outstanding,” the department explained.  Hantavirus Alert: 890 US Cases Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that by the end of 2023, 890 cases of hantavirus disease were reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) became a nationally notifiable disease in 1995 in the US. Read More: CDC Flags Surge in US Tuberculosis Outbreaks, Cases Double Since 2017What Is Hantavirus? As per the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of these cases are in Asia, particularly China. Most are sporadic or occur in small clusters, linked to contact with infected rodents. “Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Infection with hantaviruses is found in many parts of the world. Thousands of infections are estimated to occur each year," Van Kerkhove said.Infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location. In the Americas, infection has been known to lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a rapidly progressive condition affecting the lungs and heart, while in Europe and Asia, hantaviruses have been known to cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which primarily affects the kidneys and blood vessels. Notably, the WHO has not specified the type of hantavirus or syndrome in the cruise incident, but did mention respiratory risks.  The hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through exposure to their urine, droppings, saliva, less commonly through a scratch or bite.  According to the CDC, symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially presenting fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, it can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs.  The CDC reports that about one-third of individuals who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease may not survive.  Hantavirus: How Can You Reduce Your Risk? You can reduce your risk by eliminating and minimizing your contact with rodents in your home, workplace, or campsite.  Other effective measures include: keeping homes and workplaces clean sealing openings that allow rodents to enter buildings storing food securely using safe cleaning practices in areas contaminated by rodents avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings dampening of contaminated areas before cleaning strengthening hand hygiene practices.

hantavirus outbreak: who flags 6 suspected cases; how the rare rodent-borne virus spreads

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Hantavirus Outbreak: WHO Flags 6 Suspected Cases; How The Rare Rodent-Borne Virus Spreads

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