By Zoila Palma: A cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people remains stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus left three passengers dead and several others ill, prompting an international public health response.
The Dutch-flagged vessel, the MV Hondius, had requested assistance after reporting a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses, AP reports.
Authorities in Cape Verde have so far refused to allow the ship to dock due to public health concerns, keeping it anchored offshore while medical teams assess the situation.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 7 cases have been identified, including two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus infections and five suspected cases.
Among those affected are three fatalities, one critically ill patient receiving intensive care in South Africa, and others experiencing milder symptoms.
Health officials say the outbreak is unusual, as hantavirus is a rare disease typically spread through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids.
While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, WHO investigators are examining whether limited person-to-person spread may have occurred in this case.
The ship departed Ushuaia on April 1 and traveled through remote regions of the South Atlantic, including Antarctica and isolated islands.
Health authorities are still working to determine where exposure may have occurred, noting that symptoms can take weeks to develop.
A coordinated international response involving multiple countries is now underway, focusing on case isolation, testing, contact tracing, and planned medical evacuations.
Despite the severity of some cases, the WHO has assessed the overall risk to the global population as low and has not recommended travel restrictions.
The post International News: Cruise ship held offshore after deadly suspected Hantavirus outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: A cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people remains stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus left three passengers dead and several others ill, prompting an international public health response. The Dutch-flagged vessel, the MV Hondius, had requested assistance after reporting a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses,
The post International News: Cruise ship held offshore after deadly suspected Hantavirus outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
