WHO declares cruise ship hantavirus outbreak over

The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius officially over, closing a two-month episode that infected 13 people, killed three, and triggered a global health alert spanning 33 countries.

Final Contact Cleared

"Today, the final contact of a person exposed to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday. "No further cases have been reported since the 25th of May. Therefore, WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak over."aljazeera

The outbreak involved the Andes virus, a rare hantavirus strain that typically circulates in Argentina and Chile and is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission. WHO said all identified contacts completed a 42-day follow-up period without any additional secondary cases, confirming that transmission has been interrupted.bnonews+1

Scope of the Response

In total, 12 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case were linked to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged wildlife expedition ship, with three fatalities — a case fatality rate of 23 percent. More than 650 contacts were identified and monitored by health authorities across 33 countries and territories. Ten patients were hospitalized; as of Thursday, two remained in hospital in South Africa and France.france24+2

WHO was first notified on May 2 of a cluster of severe respiratory illness aboard the vessel. The outbreak prompted quarantine operations on multiple continents, including 18 U.S. passengers held at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska, all of whom tested negative. The CDC formally ended its response on June 24.cdc+3

Work Just Beginning

WHO concluded the outbreak likely originated on land before embarkation, followed by limited person-to-person transmission aboard the ship. Scientists are now analyzing virus samples to explore the potential for developing diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. The European Commission has facilitated the delivery of the experimental antiviral favipiravir to France, Spain, and the Netherlands under compassionate use protocols.europa+3

There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for hantavirus.vdh.virginia+1