Three people have died and at least nine others are suspected of being infected in an Andes hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was carrying about 150 people of 23 nationalities through the Atlantic. The World Health Organization is coordinating the global response, calling for rapid and coordinated action to contain risks.
The Andes hantavirus strain is particularly concerning because, unlike most hantaviruses, it can spread from person to person. The possible origin has been traced to rodent exposure during a birding trip in Tierra del Fuego. After the ship's doctor contracted the virus, American oncologist Dr. Stephen Kornfeld from Bend, Oregon, became the de facto head doctor managing the crisis onboard.
Seventeen Americans and one British resident landed in Omaha for medical evaluation. One weak positive case was transferred to the UNMC biocontainment unit, while one symptomatic person tested negative. A Bay Area, California resident returned and is being monitored in Santa Clara County. The CDC has alerted clinicians nationwide to watch for imported cases, though broad US spread is considered extremely unlikely.
Internationally, France identified one positive evacuee with 22 contact cases under monitoring. British paratroopers landed on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha to deliver medical supplies and oxygen for a suspected case. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has published rapid scientific advice on passenger management.
The Guardian reported that while the outbreak has been well-handled so far, dangerous days lie ahead. Previous hantavirus outbreaks have been contained, but none occurred on a cruise ship, where close living conditions make outbreak control particularly difficult. Argentina successfully contained a similar Andes virus outbreak in 2018-2019 with 34 confirmed cases and 11 deaths.