Two Indians Among Crew as Hantavirus Outbreak Reported on Luxury Cruise Ship
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has left three people dead while health authorities continue monitoring passengers and crew from multiple countries.
At least two Indian nationals are among the crew members aboard the Dutch luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has resulted in multiple confirmed infections and three deaths. Health officials and international agencies are now closely monitoring the situation as passengers from several countries continue to be traced.
The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1 and is scheduled to reach the Canary Islands in Spain on May 10. Around 150 passengers and crew members from 28 countries were originally on board during the voyage.
According to reports, dozens of passengers disembarked earlier at St Helena Island, raising concerns among health authorities about possible exposure and further transmission. Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that 29 passengers from different nationalities left the ship during the stop.
The World Health Organization stated that five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases have now been confirmed. Among the fatalities were a 69 year old Dutch woman who tested positive for the virus, her husband and a German woman. Authorities are continuing investigations into the deaths.
WHO infectious disease expert Maria Van Kerkhove clarified that the outbreak should not be compared to the Covid pandemic. She explained that hantavirus spreads very differently and mainly through close personal contact.
Health officials onboard reportedly instructed passengers and crew to wear masks and follow safety precautions. WHO also advised caregivers and those in close contact with infected individuals to use higher grade protective equipment.
Traditionally, hantavirus infections are linked to rodents, but WHO noted that the current outbreak involved documented human to human transmission, which has raised additional concern among medical experts.
The BBC reported that the people onboard included passengers and crew from the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Canada and India among other countries. Seven British nationals were among those who disembarked earlier from the vessel.
Authorities are now focused on tracing recent passengers and monitoring possible contacts to prevent further spread while the cruise continues its scheduled route toward Europe.