The World Health Organization has confirmed five hantavirus cases linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, while three more cases are still being treated as suspected.
WHO has informed 12 countries whose nationals had earlier left the ship during its voyage at Saint Helena, a remote British territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The countries are Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Speaking at a media briefing in Geneva, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency expects the outbreak to remain limited if proper public health steps are taken quickly and effectively. However, he also warned that more cases could still appear as authorities continue tracing passengers and contacts across several countries.
WHO said about 2,500 hantavirus diagnostic kits are being sent from laboratories in Argentina to five countries.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch operator of the MV Hondius, said there are 149 people on board the ship, representing 23 nationalities.
Meanwhile, two suspected hantavirus patients who were evacuated from the MV Hondius remained on a grounded air ambulance in Spain’s Canary Islands while waiting for a replacement aircraft after a technical problem, according to Spain’s Health Ministry.
The aircraft had left Cape Verde and was expected to refuel in Marrakesh, Morocco, on its way to Amsterdam. However, Spanish media reported that Moroccan authorities did not approve the landing.
Spain’s Health Ministry said the plane’s doctor reported a failure in the patient’s electrical support system during the refuelling stop.
Earlier, Spain said it would receive the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands in line with international law and humanitarian principles.
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The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is carrying out a full assessment of the situation on board to identify who needs urgent evacuation in Cape Verde. The remaining passengers and crew are expected to continue toward the Canary Islands, with arrival likely within three to four days.
