Dutch Ornithologist Identified as 'Patient Zero' in Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship
Leo Schilperoord, a 70-year-old Dutch ornithologist, has been identified as 'Patient Zero' in a hantavirus outbreak that occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship. Schilperoord and his wife, Mirjam, were on a birdwatching trip in South America when they visited a landfill near Ushuaia, Argentina, known for its birdwatching opportunities. It is suspected that they inhaled particles from the feces of long-tailed pygmy rice rats, carriers of the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is the only strain known to transmit between humans. Schilperoord fell ill with symptoms such as fever and stomach pain and died on the ship. His wife also contracted the virus and died shortly after being removed from a flight in Johannesburg. At least seven Americans who were on the same cruise have returned to the U.S., including two residents of New Jersey. 
