No sign of larger hantavirus outbreak, WHO leader says

Health officials say that despite a slight increase in cases, they see no evidence of a larger outbreak of the hantavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Tuesday briefing. Ghebreyesus did note that the situation may change. There was a lot of interaction among passengers, and because of the virus’s six-to-eight-week incubation period, more cases may emerge in the coming weeks, he added.

Hours after Ghebreyesus’ briefing, the WHO reported at least two more cases of the virus among passengers and crew. Of the 11 identified cases, nine are confirmed, and two are probable, according to a Tuesday statement. The three previously reported deaths are included in the 11-patient case count, WHO added. The UN health agency echoed Ghebreyesus’ comments, stating that more cases were expected to emerge, but there were no signs of a larger outbreak.

Most hantavirus strains spread through contact with urine, feces, or saliva from infected rodents. However, the specific strain of hantavirus confirmed to be on the ship, known as the Andes virus, has been reported to have limited human-to-human transmission. Health officials characterize the virus as rare but severe, with about 35% of cases resulting in death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Where are the passengers and crew now? Ghebreyesus’ update came as the company overseeing the MV Hondius confirmed that all passengers aboard the ship had disembarked. A total of 122 guests and crew will return to their home countries, according to a Monday statement. The ship still has 25 crewmembers on board, along with two medical professionals to conduct ongoing medical monitoring until the vessel arrives in the Netherlands, according to the cruise company.

What about the passengers who left before the virus was identified? Ghebreyesus reported that the passengers who left the cruise early have been located, but noted that they would not be forced to follow the UN’s quarantine protocols. National sovereignty allows countries to choose whether they follow the WHO’s recommendations, so the UN health agency hopes countries will honor its advice, Ghebreyesus said. Viruses do not honor national borders, and the world’s strongest immunity is solidarity, he added.

Where are the infected patients now? At least 17 individuals are being monitored at U.S. health facilities, according to a Sunday night update from the Health and Human Services Department. The cruise passengers are now at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for quarantine and treatment, with one individual asymptomatically testing positive for the virus, according to a Monday statement from the facility.

Australia placed six people from the cruise into quarantine in the Netherlands, Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, shared Monday night. The patients—including four Australians, a permanent resident, and a New Zealander—would be transferred back to Australia later this week to complete the required 42-day quarantine, he added. The Health Ministry of Spain released a statement on Tuesday that one passenger tested positive at a military hospital in Madrid, while 13 others tested negative.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that one of the five French nationals repatriated on Sunday tested positive for the virus. The one infected patient had stabilized but remained under intensive care, Lecornu said. Eight other French nationals were placed under quarantine after sharing a flight with an infected person about two weeks ago, Lecornu said. The French government is requiring hospital quarantine for all cases of contact with an infected person, with no exceptions, he added.