First person who wasn't on latest cruise voyage tests positive for hantavirus

The first case of hantavirus discovered in someone who was not on the current sailing of the MV Hondius cruise ship has been reported, and a man is in hospital.

The patient, who had sailed on the ship in April, is currently in a medical facility in Switzerland.

The former MV Hondius passenger has been hospitalised in Zurich and has tested positive for the virus, according to the Swiss health ministry.

A ministry statement read: "One person with a hantavirus infection is currently being treated at the University Hospital Zurich."

It detailed that the man "returned to Switzerland after travelling on the cruise ship on which there were a number of hantavirus cases".

Three additional people who were believed to have been infected with hantavirus have also been evacuated from a cruise ship off Cape Verde.

Three sick passengers evacuated

It was earlier reported that the three sick cruise ship passengers who were diagnosed with hantavirus have been medically evacuated.

It was revealed that they were evacuated to the Netherlands this morning (May 6).

So far, the outbreak has killed three people and infected at least seven others aboard a luxury Dutch cruise ship, with two of the three deceased being identified as an elderly Dutch couple.

A 70-year-old Dutch man was declared dead on arrival in Saint Helena, while the ship was making a stopover, as his 69-year-old wife collapsed at Johannesburg's international airport in South Africa as she attempted to fly back home to the Netherlands.

The third victim has not yet been publicly identified.

Hantavirus was also confirmed in a 69-year-old Brit, who was evacuated to a hospital in South Africa for intensive care.

Latest on MV Hondius

The cruise ship was set to dock in Cape Verde on Tuesday (May 5), but local authorities have banned passengers from disembarking on safety grounds.

A Spanish leader opposed allowing it to dock on their shores, while authorities confirmed that the Andes strain, which can be spread from person-to-person, was found in passengers.

There are approximately 150 people on board the MV Hondius, and it has been explained that those affected likely contracted the virus by inhaling the feces, urine, or saliva of infected rats or mice.

Despite this belief, the World Health Organization claims that no rodents were found on the vessel.

The WHO chief is adamant that 'the overall public health risk remains low'.

"Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained on X.

According to the BBC, Oceanwide Expeditions stated that there are 149 people from 23 countries on the MV Hondius under 'strict precautionary measures', including isolation and hygiene protocols.

One medic is on board the ship, while two infectious disease specialists from the Netherlands are set to board the ship and remain there for the duration of the ship's journey.

What is hantavirus?

According to Mayo Clinic, the illness produces particular symptom patterns that can trigger hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) or Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

Both can be fatal if left untreated, with the virus primarily being transmitted via contact with rodents when humans are exposed to their urine, feces, or saliva.

HPS is most commonly spread by rat and mouse feces, which can come into contact with humans when clearing out rat-infested rooms or spaces.

The virus is potentially fatal, with there currently being no known cure.

Speaking on Tuesday, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said via NBC that, unlike influenza or Covid-19, it can only be spread through close contact, such as sharing food or a bed.

Those who end up contracting the virus will usually start experiencing symptoms within one to eight weeks.

Some of the symptoms of the virus include:

1. Headaches
2. Dizziness
3. Chills
4. Gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
5. Fatigue
6. Fever
7. Muscle aches in major muscle groups such as the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders.

Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons