Guwahati, May 8: A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, travelling from Antarctica toward Spain’s Canary Islands, has triggered global concern after at least three deaths and multiple suspected infections were reported.
Two Indian crew members are believed to still be onboard the vessel, though their health condition has not yet been officially disclosed.
The outbreak, linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, has alarmed health authorities because it is among the few known variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the overall public health risk remains “low” and stressed that the situation does not indicate a pandemic scenario, even as countries race to trace passengers who disembarked earlier during the voyage.
The Dutch-operated vessel, carrying passengers and crew from over 20 countries, is currently sailing toward Spain under medical supervision after reportedly being denied docking at some ports earlier. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he has been in regular contact with the ship’s captain as international agencies monitor the situation.
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Symptoms often begin like flu — including fever, fatigue and body ache — but can rapidly escalate into severe respiratory complications in some cases. The incident has also revived memories of cruise ship outbreaks during the Covid-19 pandemic years.
