Follow-up measures have also been initiated for passengers still on board as well as those who have already disembarked.

On Wednesday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that three suspected hantavirus patients have been evacuated from the cruise ship Hondius hit by a hantavirus outbreak and are being transported to the Netherlands for medical treatment.

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The WHO continues to work with the cruise operator to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew members, while coordinating with relevant countries to support medical follow-up and evacuations where necessary, he said.

Monitoring and follow-up measures have also been initiated for passengers still on board as well as those who have already disembarked, in cooperation with the ship operator and national health authorities. The WHO said the overall public health risk remains low at this stage.

Meanwhile, Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two infectious disease specialists are traveling from the Netherlands to board the cruise ship to provide medical support.

The specialists will remain on board after the vessel’s expected departure from Cabo Verde, provided the transfer of the three suspected patients is completed successfully, the company said in a statement. An additional medical professional is already on board the vessel.

Hantavirus is a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents and transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their droppings, urine, or saliva. When these materials become airborne—such as when sweeping or disturbing contaminated dust—people can inhale the virus and become infected.

Different strains exist worldwide, and each is typically associated with a specific rodent species. The disease is not usually spread from person to person, except in rare cases involving certain strains found in South America.

In humans, hantavirus infection can lead to serious illnesses, most notably Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Americas and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia.

Early symptoms often resemble the flu, including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches. As the disease progresses, especially in HPS, it can cause severe respiratory distress due to fluid buildup in the lungs, which can become life-threatening without prompt medical care. Mortality rates can be high, making early recognition and treatment critical.

Prevention mainly focuses on reducing exposure to rodents and their habitats. This includes sealing homes to prevent rodent entry, properly storing food, and using protective measures—such as gloves and masks—when cleaning areas where rodent contamination might be present.

There is no widely available vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections, so public health efforts emphasize awareness and prevention to reduce the risk of infection.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – WHO

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