By Ginika Igboke
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on May 10 that one American evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, while another American passenger was experiencing mild symptoms.
The two individuals are among 17 American passengers evacuated from the Dutch-flagged vessel, which has been linked to a hantavirus outbreak.
“All 17 are currently en route via @StateDept airlift to the United States, with two of the passengers travelling in the plane’s biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution,” HHS said in a statement posted on X.
The department added that one passenger had tested mildly positive through PCR testing for the Andes virus, while another was showing mild symptoms.
Patients to Receive Specialized Treatment in Nebraska
HHS said the evacuated Americans would be transported to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while the symptomatic passenger would be transferred to a separate medical facility.
“Upon arrival at each facility, each individual will undergo clinical assessment and receive appropriate care and support based on their condition,” the department stated.
Nebraska Medicine, the clinical partner of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, confirmed on May 10 that its specialized biocontainment unit had been activated ahead of the arrival of the passengers.
The medical center said all 17 Americans are expected to arrive in Omaha early Monday.
According to Nebraska Medicine, one passenger transported in the biocontainment unit tested positive for hantavirus but was not currently showing symptoms.
The remaining passengers will be placed in the facility’s national quarantine unit for monitoring and further medical evaluation.
“They were managed separately from other passengers during transport using appropriate biocontainment measures,” the health center said. “They will be monitored in the Biocontainment Unit out of an abundance of caution and follow-up testing will be performed.”
Outbreak Linked to MV Hondius Cruise Ship
The MV Hondius had been anchored off the coast of Cape Verde when health officials declared an outbreak onboard.
The World Health Organization said on May 8 that eight suspected or confirmed hantavirus cases had been connected to the ship, including three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German national.
Six of the confirmed cases were identified as infections caused by the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is primarily found in southern regions of South America, including Argentina, where the Dutch couple reportedly boarded the ship.
On May 10, the ship arrived in Tenerife, where more than 140 remaining passengers and crew members were expected to disembark before being flown to their home countries for isolation procedures.
Tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said the repatriation effort was being coordinated in partnership with the WHO and several governments.
“As outlined by the WHO, in partnership with several international organizations and governments, guests will be transported by air to their respective countries, where they will enter quarantine procedures,” the company stated.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also reported that one French passenger developed symptoms during a repatriation flight.
Understanding the Andes Hantavirus
Hantavirus is a serious viral disease typically transmitted through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The illness carries an estimated mortality rate of between 30 and 50 percent.
The Andes strain is especially concerning because it is one of the few hantavirus variants known to spread between humans, although the World Health Organization says such transmission is rare and generally requires close and prolonged contact.
Symptoms often begin with flu-like signs such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches one to eight weeks after exposure.
Within several days, the pulmonary form of the disease can rapidly worsen, leading to coughing, difficulty breathing, and dangerous fluid buildup in the lungs.
Original article
Comments