WHO Issues Guidance on Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing specific guidelines to address the first recorded hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship currently en route to Tenerife. The outbreak has led to at least eight suspected or confirmed infections and three fatalities among nearly 150 passengers on board.
Given the unprecedented nature of a ship-borne hantavirus outbreak, the WHO is adapting standard public health practices, such as isolating infected individuals and quarantining those potentially exposed, to contain the spread of the Andes strain of hantavirus responsible for the infections.
According to the ship’s operator, no passengers are currently showing symptoms. WHO officials emphasize the importance of isolating symptomatic passengers and closely monitoring those who have had contact with infected individuals. The incubation period for the Andes strain can extend up to 42 days, increasing the need for prolonged observation.
Experts are drawing on previous outbreaks for guidance, particularly the 2018-2019 Andes virus outbreak in Argentina. During that event, 34 people were infected, and 11 died, with transmission occurring mainly through close and prolonged contact when patients were symptomatic.
Abdi Rahman Mahamud, director of the WHO’s alert and response coordination department, highlighted that following established public health measures could prevent a large-scale epidemic. “If we follow public health measures and the lessons we learned from Argentina, we can break this chain of transmission,” he stated.
WHO technical officer Anais Legand explained that some passengers might be required to monitor their temperature daily for the full incubation period. National authorities may also be tasked with establishing regular communication with passengers and providing means to report any emerging symptoms immediately. Additionally, passengers are being categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on their exposure level.
Contact tracing is also ongoing, particularly for individuals who may have disembarked from the ship. The risk factors for transmission revolve mainly around close contacts with symptomatic patients, underscoring the importance of social distancing and self-isolation for those feeling unwell.
Governments are taking proactive measures in response to the outbreak. The UK government announced plans to repatriate its citizens via a flight implementing strict infection control protocols. Repatriated passengers will be asked to undergo a 45-day isolation period with testing conducted as necessary.
Medical experts like Associate Professor Krutika Kuppalli from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center note that the strategies align with protocols established for other infectious diseases such as measles and Ebola, where effective contact tracing and isolation play pivotal roles.
WHO authorities continue to finalize the detailed guidance and remain in close consultation with international experts to ensure containment of this novel outbreak scenario.