The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that eight people have been infected, including three fatalities, in an outbreak of Hantavirus linked to a cruise ship. The tally includes six confirmed cases and two probable cases.
اضافة اعلان
The organization stated that six cases were confirmed to be infected with the Andes strain—a specific lineage of Hantavirus—through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.
The ship was carrying 147 passengers and crew members when the outbreak was first reported on May 2nd, while 34 others had already disembrolled. Currently, four patients remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, while a suspected case sent to Germany tested negative.
U.S. Response and Evacuation Plans
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Friday that the United States is closely monitoring the situation regarding American travelers aboard the vessel.
The CDC announced plans to evacuate American passengers via a U.S. government medical flight to Omaha, Nebraska. According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship's operator, there are 17 Americans currently on board.
The vessel departed Cape Verde on May 6th and is sailing toward Spain's Canary Islands, where passengers are expected to disembark.
Risk Assessment
The WHO stated that while the global risk to the general population is low, the risk to the passengers and crew on board is considered moderate.
According to the organization, the "index case" (the first person infected) may have contracted the virus before boarding the ship, possibly while traveling in Argentina or Chile, with subsequent transmission likely occurring on board.
