Cruise ships are making headlines again.
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has sparked a globe-spanning public health scramble involving airlines, hospitals, and health officials from South Africa to Switzerland.
The expedition ship, which had been sailing through remote South Atlantic destinations like Tristan da Cunha and Saint Helena, has been linked to three deaths and multiple infections. Investigators believe the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is the only known version capable of limited human-to-human transmission, typically through very close contact like shared cabins or meals. Authorities think the virus may have originated before boarding, possibly during travel in South America, before quietly incubating onboard.
Now, health officials are racing to trace passengers who dispersed across continents after leaving the ship. Airlines including KLM and Airlink have contacted travelers about potential exposure, while passengers onboard have largely been confined to cabins as the vessel heads toward the Canary Islands. Experts say the broader public risk remains low, so it's unlikely we're looking at Covid 2.0.
📸: Getty
Cruise ships are making headlines again.
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has sparked a globe-spanning public health scramble involving airlines, hospitals, and health officials from South Africa to Switzerland.
The expedition ship, which had been sailing through remote South Atlantic destinations like Tristan da Cunha and Saint Helena, has been linked to three deaths and multiple infections. Investigators believe the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is the only known version capable of limited human-to-human transmission, typically through very close contact like shared cabins or meals. Authorities think the virus may have originated before boarding, possibly during travel in South America, before quietly incubating onboard.
Now, health officials are racing to trace passengers who dispersed across continents after leaving the ship. Airlines including KLM and Airlink have contacted travelers about potential exposure, while passengers onboard have largely been confined to cabins as the vessel heads toward the Canary Islands. Experts say the broader public risk remains low, so it's unlikely we're looking at Covid 2.0.
📸: Getty
