Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Evacuated; WHO Rules Out Global Pandemic
Health officials, including the World Health Organization, say the unique transmission route of the virus prevents a worldwide crisis despite serious cases on the luxury vessel
Over 100 passengers and crew on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius have been evacuated following an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus, which has resulted in three deaths. While 18 Americans are currently in biocontainment units in Nebraska and Georgia, health officials state the outbreak is unlikely to become a global pandemic due to the virus's low transmissibility compared to SARS-CoV-2.
The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed at a press conference that all 11 reported cases so far are confined to passengers or crew on the ship. He noted that while there is currently no sign of a larger outbreak, the long incubation period means more cases could potentially emerge in the coming weeks.
Nicole Iovine, an infectious disease expert and hospital epidemiologist at the University of Florida Health, explained that the Andes virus is unique because it is the only type of hantavirus known to transmit from person to person. Unlike typical hantaviruses spread by rodent droppings, this strain requires close, prolonged contact, such as a doctor examining a patient, rather than casual proximity like sitting at a dinner table.
The virus infects deep in the lungs rather than the upper airways, making airborne transmission via coughing or sneezing significantly less likely than with SARS-CoV-2. Initial symptoms are nonspecific, including fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches, often resembling the flu, with an incubation period ranging from five days to six weeks after exposure.
Containment measures implemented on the ship have halted further transmission, according to a 2020 study cited by the expert. Iovine emphasised that while the confined space of the cruise ship increased the risk, the lack of effective ventilation in such environments compared to well-ventilated spaces or outdoors is a key factor in how the virus spreads.
Given these factors, officials believe the situation will not translate into a worldwide pandemic. While the virus carries a high fertility rate and can cause serious disease, the specific mode of transmission limits its ability to spread rapidly through the general population once containment protocols are in place.
