Two Indian crew members are among the 149 people stranded aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has killed three passengers
and triggered a medical emergency in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has been anchored near Cape Verde after multiple passengers developed symptoms linked to the rare and potentially deadly hantavirus. According to a nationality-wise list shared by the company, two Indian crew members are currently on board the vessel. However, their identities, roles, and health conditions have not been disclosed. The list shows that the 149 people aboard the ship belong to 23 different nationalities, including tourists from United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Spain. The outbreak has so far claimed three lives, including a Dutch couple and a German passenger. One critically ill patient was evacuated for urgent treatment, while several others remain under medical observation aboard the ship.
Authorities track passengers across the world
Health authorities across four continents Thursday were tracking down and monitoring passengers who disembarked a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship before its deadly outbreak was detected and trying to trace others who may have come into contact with them since then.
In Argentina, a team of investigators tasked with determining the origins of the deadly hantavirus on a cruise ship has yet to leave for the southern town they suspect is the source, officials from the country's Health Ministry told The Associated Press on Thursday.
On April 24, nearly two weeks after the first passenger had died on board, more than two dozen people from at least 12 different countries left the ship without contact tracing, the ship's operator and Dutch officials said Thursday.
None of the remaining passengers or crew on the ship are currently symptomatic, the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions cruise ship company said Thursday. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
The World Health Organisation says the risk to the wider public is low. Hantavirus is usually spread by the inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings and isn't easily transmitted between people.
"We believe this will be a limited outbreak if the public health measures are implemented and solidarity is shown across all countries," said Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, the WHO's alert and response director on Thursday.
The first hantavirus case on board was confirmed May 2
(With agency inputs)
