Two Indian Crew Members Aboard Ship Hit by Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak
Two Indian crew members are among those onboard the MV Hondius expedition ship, where a rare and deadly hantavirus outbreak has claimed three lives and infected several others in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to reports, the vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is currently heading towards Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands after authorities monitored the outbreak and initiated emergency health measures. The ship carried 149 passengers and crew members from 23 countries.
The outbreak is linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus, considered one of the rare variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission through very close physical contact. Health authorities believe the virus may have originated during a birdwatching trip in Ushuaia, Argentina, where passengers were possibly exposed to infected rodent droppings.
So far:
• Three passengers have died
• Eight people have reportedly been infected
• Three critically ill patients were evacuated by air ambulance
• Two Indian crew members remain onboard, though their health condition has not been disclosed
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the overall public health risk remains low, but officials are continuing contact tracing because the virus can take up to six weeks before symptoms appear.
Hantavirus is carried by rodents and spreads mainly through inhalation of contaminated dust particles from rodent urine or droppings. In severe cases, particularly with the Andes strain found in the Americas, the virus attacks the lungs and can lead to respiratory failure. Fatality rates can reach up to 50 percent.
Symptoms initially resemble common viral infections and include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Breathing difficulty in advanced stages
There is currently no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for hantavirus. Patients are treated through intensive supportive care, including oxygen support and close medical monitoring.
Health experts noted that India has recorded isolated hantavirus cases in the past, including studies in Tamil Nadu and sporadic infections among workers exposed to rodents. However, experts say the greater concern remains underdiagnosis, as symptoms often resemble dengue, leptospirosis, or flu-like illnesses.
Authorities in Europe and other countries are continuing surveillance and monitoring of passengers and crew members as the ship approaches port.
Source National News
