By: Jane Wilde and Tori Schubert
Humor and People Editor
Medical officials examined around 18 people from the MV Hondius cruise ship regarding their positive test for the Hantavirus. The ship went to Antarctica and Argentina just days before passengers became incredibly ill. 18 people who were on the cruise during the rare outbreak are under observation in medical units in Nebraska and Atlanta. Only one of those individuals is symptomatic.
The cruise ship held 147 people, now returning to 23 different countries, following their arrival in Spain on May 10. Passengers were transported home using military flight systems, in hopes of reaching suitable quarantine environments or biocontaminant units. Among those voyagers were 17 Americans, including two Californians, one of whom is a Santa Clara County resident. The World Health Organization (WHO) will be monitoring cruise members for symptoms and has advised a 42-day quarantine, although not declaring it mandatory.
Hantavirus is a rare, yet lethal disease that is typically transmitted through rodents and rarely affects humans. However, the Andes virus, the strain of Hantavirus found on the ship, is the only type to be transmitted through humans. Thus, when the first passenger of the MV Hondius became ill, the virus infected nine people aboard the ship, resulting in three deaths as of May 11. Jake Rosmarin, an American passenger quarantined in Omaha, spoke to NBC News regarding his isolation experience, stating, “I’m happy to be in a place where I know we are well cared for, and if anything happens, we have the medical attention that we need.”
There are currently 11 confirmed cases in various countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. In the Americas, the disease has led to cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), damaging patients’ lungs. Those who develop HPS have an expected 38% fatality rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the panic arising in citizens as more information is released, Dr. Erica Pan, State Public Health Officer and California Department of Public Health director, explained, “Unlike influenza and COVID-19, years of experience in South America have shown that this Andes Hantavirus rarely spreads between people.” Additional reports from the WHO note that the public risk for Hantavirus is currently low.
Trump responded to the outbreak, telling PBS, “It’s been around for a long time, people are very familiar with it.” His administration is not actively doing anything at the moment regarding the outbreak; however, they have assured the public that the situation is under control and far from reaching other states. Although much uncertainty remains, the WHO is working with officials across the globe to navigate the next steps. They are currently aiming to improve early detection and evaluate possible treatments for the Andes strain. Until then, the WHO recommends the public to maintain proper hygiene and utilize rodent control, as administrators continue to trace and monitor symptoms.
Sources: (ABC News, CDC, CNN, NBC, PBS, World Health Organization)