A hantavirus outbreak linked to a luxury expedition cruise has prompted health authorities to monitor the situation closely, though the World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk to the general public as low and has not recommended travel restrictions.
What happened
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Argentina on 1 April on a 35-day expedition voyage to some of the world's most remote islands. Cases of illness began emerging during the sailing, and as of early May, seven cases have been linked to the voyage – two confirmed hantavirus infections and three suspected cases still under investigation on board.
Three deaths have been associated with the voyage, though investigators have not yet confirmed whether all are directly related to hantavirus. The first fatality, a Dutch national, was disembarked at St Helena on 24 April; his wife died the same month. A third death was recorded on board on 2 May. One passenger is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Most passengers remain quarantined on the ship while three suspected hantavirus patients were evacuated from a cruise ship. Spain's Health Ministry has confirmed it will receive the vessel.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is not a new disease – cases are reported around the world each year. It is rare but carries a high fatality rate of between 30 and 40%, and is typically contracted through exposure to infected rodents via their urine, faeces or saliva.
This outbreak is caused by Andes virus, a type of hantavirus which is known to spread human-to-human. Previous data shows human-to-human transmission occurs with very close contact.
Hantavirus is a rare infection typically spread through contact with infected rodents – their urine, faeces or saliva – and can cause severe respiratory illness. While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, WHO notes it can occur in close-contact settings.
Investigators believe the couple at the centre of the initial cases may have been exposed during a birdwatching excursion during their overland trip in Argentina prior to boarding the ship, though this has not been confirmed. It’s suspected but not confirmed that some cases occurred due to human-to-human transmission on the ship.
Symptoms typically appear two to three weeks after exposure, though the incubation period can range from one to eight weeks. The illness begins with flu-like symptoms before potentially progressing to severe respiratory, cardiac and renal complications.
What this means for travel
WHO's regional director for Europe has stated there is currently no basis for travel restrictions, and the broader public health risk remains low. The outbreak is being treated as a contained cluster under active investigation rather than a wider public health emergency.