A deadly virus outbreak that has already killed three people aboard a South American cruise ship has now reached Europe after a Swiss passenger tested positive, sparking international panic over a rare strain with a 40 percent mortality rate that spreads person-to-person.
Swiss Man Tests Positive After Cruise Returns Home
Swiss authorities confirmed Wednesday that a man who traveled to South America aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship with his wife last month tested positive for hantavirus after returning home. The passenger sought testing at a Zurich hospital after cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions emailed recent travelers warning them about the spreading outbreak. His condition remains unknown, though his wife shows no symptoms and is self-isolating. The virus can lie dormant for up to eight weeks before symptoms appear.
Local health officials insist there is no risk to the Swiss public, but the confirmation has fueled fears given the virus appears capable of human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization reported at least five people sickened and three dead from the outbreak. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, told reporters Tuesday that officials believe some human-to-human transmission is occurring among very close contacts.
The WHO states that the overall public health risk remains low.
Cruise Ship Stranded As Countries Refuse Entry
The MV Hondius remains stranded in West African waters after Cape Verde denied permission to dock due to health concerns. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez granted the vessel permission to dock in the Canary Islands, but regional leader Fernando Clavijo publicly refused the decision. Clavijo told local media he cannot allow the ship to enter because the danger to the population is real. The conservative regional leader requested an emergency meeting with the socialist prime minister over the controversy.
Madrid’s national government defended the decision, stating Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist the passengers, including several Spanish citizens. The Spanish constitution allows the national government to overrule regional authorities in such situations.
Rare Deadly Strain Behind Outbreak
Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent droppings, but health officials believe the Andes virus strain is responsible for this outbreak. The Andes virus represents one of the few hantavirus strains capable of spreading between humans and carries a 40 percent mortality rate. The alarming death rate combined with the virus’s ability to remain dormant for eight weeks has heightened concerns as the ship remains at sea with no confirmed port of entry.
