A hantavirus-stricken cruise ship A hantavirus-stricken cruise ship with more than 140 people on board has arrived at Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, where the passengers and some of the crew are to disembark.
The World Health Organisation, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions have said that nobody on board the MV Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.
The ship will not dock but will remain at anchor, with people ferried off in small boats. Everyone disembarking will be checked for symptoms, and will only be taken off the ship once evacuation flights are ready to fly them to their destinations.
There are currently people of more than 20 different nationalities on board.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain’s health and interior ministers, were to be supervising the evacuation of the ship. Authorities have said the passengers and crew members who will disembark will have no contact with the local population.
Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.
Ministry of Health receiving regular updates
In a statement, Ministry of Health deputy director of public health Dr Richard Jaine said the ministry was receiving regular updates on the New Zealanders who may have been exposed to the virus.
Jaine said the ministry was working closely with the WHO and other international partners to "support repatriation efforts as required".
"We currently have no reason to believe that any New Zealanders have contracted Hantavirus. However, it is important that we respond appropriately and take all possible steps to manage any potential risk to individuals or the public."
Jaine said repatriation plans will include a thorough public health assessment of the risk for any individual and the public.
"Depending on the risk it is possible this may also include a period of quarantine for any exposed individual on their return to New Zealand.
"Our public health services are well placed to respond in the event of a Hantavirus case in New Zealand. However, it’s important to note that human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus is rare and requires prolonged and direct exposure to a case. This isn’t like the flu or Covid-19."
- Additional reporting by 1News
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