WHO head warns countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned countries to prepare for more cases of hantavirus after an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Spain helped by allowing the ship to dock and evacuating passengers, while the WHO recommended quarantines and monitoring to stop the virus from spreading.Key Facts
- The hantavirus outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
- Three passengers died from the virus, including a Dutch couple and a German national.
- There have been nine confirmed cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus, including a French woman and an American.
- The virus is mainly spread by wild rodents but can sometimes pass from person to person during close contact.
- The WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine and close monitoring of people who were in contact with infected passengers.
- The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) can be six to eight weeks, so more cases may appear soon.
- Spain allowed the ship to dock in Tenerife and coordinated the safe evacuation of over 120 passengers and crew members.
- WHO praised Spain’s leadership and solidarity in dealing with the outbreak after Cape Verde refused the ship permission to dock.
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