GENEVA, MAY 23 (V7N) - The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a new case of hantavirus infection in a crew member from the cruise ship MV Hondius. The individual disembarked in Spain’s Canary Islands and was repatriated to the Netherlands, where they had already been observing precautionary isolation.
With this new infection, the total number of suspected and confirmed cases linked to the cruise ship outbreak has reached 12, including three deaths. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that no new fatalities have been recorded since May 2, when the international health agency was first officially notified of the cluster.
The Specific Strain: Laboratory testing confirmed the infection is caused by the Andes virus species. This is the only known strain of hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission, which typically occurs through close, prolonged contact.
Current Patient Status: The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced that the crew member was transitioning from strict home quarantine to a hospital isolation ward as a preventative safety measure. The positive diagnosis was verified independently by two separate laboratories.
Global Contact Tracing: Public health agencies are currently tracking and monitoring more than 600 contacts across 30 different countries to prevent wider community transmission. Authorities are actively working to locate a small number of remaining high-risk contacts.
The rare, rodent-borne virus—which currently has no specialized vaccines or targeted treatments—spread silently during an extended maritime itinerary before triggering an international health response.
