You’ve heard the name, and you’re definitely seen the headlines, but what, exactly, is hantavirus?
Indeed, in light of three deaths on a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde, talk of hantavirus—which is actually a family of viruses typically spread by rodents—has escalated on social media and beyond, with more alarmist takes likening the situation to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic that gripped the world in 2020.
In an effort to ease fears, we’re taking a closer look. Keep reading for more.
What is hantavirus?
Per the World Health Organization (WHO), hantaviruses are “zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.” There are multiple species of hantavirus, but only a select few have been recorded as causing disease in humans. The Andes virus, specifically, is the one linked to the much-discussed MV Hondius cruise ship cases. Andes can cause “limited human-to-human transmission,” particularly in situations involving “close and prolonged contact,” which especially makes sense in a cruise ship context.
What happened on the cruise ship?
At a press conference on Thursday (May 7), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director General, said that officials were first alerted to “a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness” on the Dutch cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which had traveled from Argentina to Cape Verde.
“So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. “Five of the eight cases have been confirmed as hantavirus, and the other three are suspected.”
The first known case, Dr. Ghebreyesus added, was in a man who developed symptoms on April 6, later dying on the ship. The man’s wife later went ashore while symptomatic, then died in late April. A third woman, who was also on the ship, died in early May.
As of this writing, none of the remaining passengers or crew are showing symptoms, though, given that the incubation period for Andes can last up to six weeks, “it’s possible” that additional confirmed cases will be reported.
“While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said Thursday.
Symptoms in early stages of Andes are said to resemble those of the flu and include headache, fever, and chest pain.
Is this actually on par with the COVID-19 pandemic, as some have suggested on social media?
No, according to WHO. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist who also serves as WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19 response efforts, made it clear that “this is not coronavirus” and is instead a “very different” situation.
“We know this virus,” she added. “Hantaviruses have been around for quite a while. … I want to be unequivocal here: This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship.”
Early medical intervention can significantly increase one’s shot at survival if infected, though infection itself is still considered a rare occurrence, particularly in the U.S.
What’s next?
WHO and related officials will continue to monitor the situation while working to prevent additional spread. Thousands of diagnostic kits have been distributed in multiple countries, with the organization also recently confirming that “step-by-step operational guidance” for the affected ship’s remaining passengers is in active development.
Those on the affected ship, as mentioned in this Associated Press report citing a 31-year-old passenger, were isolating in their cabins as recently as earlier this week. According to the passenger, “morale on the ship is high” despite the circumstances.
“Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline,” reads the latest update from the MV Hondius ship’s operator, shared on May 7.
