Fears cruise ship hantavirus could be next pandemic amid ‘human-to-human’ spread

The stricken luxury cruise ship MV Hondius could become the epicentre of another pandemic as experts fear the deadly hantavirus outbreak could spread from human to human

There are growing fears another pandemic could be unleashed from the ‘rat virus’ cruise ship. MV Hondius is currently docked in Cape Verde, an island off the west coast of Africa, after an outbreak of hantavirus left three dead.

Health authorities in Switzerland have confirmed a former passenger of the vessel is being treated for the disease in Zurich. The man had travelled on board the Dutch cruise liner before traveling back to Switzerland with his wife at the end of April.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed three patients with the virus – a British crew member, a Dutch colleague and another passenger– have been evacuated from the Dutch cruise liner. They are set to be transported to the Netherlands where they will receive medical treatment.

The number of confirmed hantavirus cases associated with the cruise ship outbreak now stands at eight. The Swiss authorities have insisted the case in Zurich poses “no threat” to the public while the WHO have said the “overall public health risk remains low”.

Rat virus super spreader on plane

The first case of hantavirus in a person who was not on board MV Hondius has been reported. The French national is said to have contracted the virus after boarding a flight to Johannesburg with a passenger of the cruise liner on the remote island of St Helena on April 25.

The day before, the Dutch woman disembarked the vessel after her husband died of the rat virus while on board. The woman then died of the rare virus while being treated in South Africa.

Health authorities are desperately trying to hunt down the close contacts of the Dutch woman as they fear the flight may have been a “super-spreader” event.

Human to human transmission

The WHO insisted on Tuesday that no rodents have been found on board MV Hondius. This means that there could be an “ultra-rare” subtype of the hantavirus knocking about the 353-foot ship which is transmitted “person-to-person”.

“The Andes virus – that one specific subtype of the hantavirus – in Argentina, where they were, is the one that’s transmitted person-to-person,” physician Zaid Fadul, a former Air Force flight surgeon, said. “And that’s where a lot of anxiety in this case is coming from.”

The Andes strain of the hantavirus, with a mortality rate nearing 40%, could rapidly escalate into a worst-case scenario in a confined space such as the 80-cabin, 353-foot ship, the doctor warned.

“And that’s why everyone is so scared,” he stated. On Tuesday, the WHO confirmed it as the working theory, suggesting passengers may have been infected prior to boarding the vessel.

“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention.

Swiss case of rat virus

The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said in a statement: “One person has tested positive for hantavirus in Switzerland. The man had returned from a trip to South America with his wife at the end of April.

“Having noticed symptoms, he telephoned his GP and went to the University Hospital Zurich for further assessment. There, he was immediately placed in isolation.”

The man is being treated at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) which is “prepared to deal with such cases, is able to care for the patient, and guarantee the safety of staff and all patients.

“There is currently no risk to the Swiss public,” the Swiss authorities added.

Brit evacuated from rat virus ship

A British crew member with suspected hantavirus has been medically evacuated from the cruise ship linked to the outbreak. The crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and another passenger, were taken from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius for onward travel to the Netherlands, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the global health body, posted on X: “Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands in co-ordination with WHO, the ship’s operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.

“WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed.

“Monitoring and follow-up for passengers on board and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated in collaboration with the ship’s operators and national health authorities.

“At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.”