Hantavirus episode on board a cruise: no reason to panic for the WHO

The hantavirus episode which left three dead aboard a Dutch cruise ship presents a "low risk" of spread, the regional director of WHO Europe estimated on Monday at a time when the Netherlands is seeking to repatriate two patients.

"The risk to the general public remains low. There is no reason to panic or impose travel restrictions," judged Hans Kluge, stressing that hantavirus infections were rare, generally linked to exposure to infected rodents and were "not easily transmitted between people”.

Mr. Kluge stressed that WHO Europe was working with affected countries to support medical care, evacuation and investigations.

“We are acting with urgency to support the response to the hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic following these tragic deaths,” added this health official.

An AFP photographer was able to see the ship on Monday morning, the MV Hondius - which linked Ushuaia, in Argentina, to Cape Verde - anchoring in the port of Praia, capital of this West African archipelago, located off the coast of Senegal. It can accommodate around 170 passengers for around 70 crew members.

In its very first press release, the Dutch cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions, a specialist in polar expeditions, confirmed that it was facing "a serious medical situation" on board the MV Hondius.

He then confirmed three deaths, including two on board and one after disembarkation.

Two victims are a Dutch couple, he aged 70, who died on board the ship and whose body is on the island of Saint Helena, and his wife aged 69, who died in a South African hospital In Johannesburg. The nationality of the third is not known, according to Dutch media.

Another passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two others "need urgent medical care", the operator said. According to the WHO, a British patient was treated in South Africa.

- Repatriation -

“The Dutch authorities have agreed to coordinate a joint operation aimed at organizing the repatriation of the two people showing symptoms on board the MV Hondius, from Cape Verde to the Netherlands,” Oceanwide Expeditions said.

Such repatriation would depend on several factors, including authorization from the Cape Verdean authorities, according to the press release.

In a press release sent to AFP, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it was "currently studying the possibilities of medically evacuating a few people from the ship". “If this proves possible, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take charge of coordination,” said a spokesperson.

Although doctors from Cape Verde went on board to assess the health of the two sick passengers, none authorized