There is “no sign” of a major hantavirus outbreak following the evacuation of the virus-hit MV Hondius, the head of the World Health Organization said.
During a press conference on MondayTedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said the hantavirus assessment “remains that the global health risk remains low.”
“There have been no deaths since May 2, when the WHO was first informed of the cluster of cases. All suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and treated under strict medical supervision, minimizing any risk of further transmission,” Ghebreyesus said.
“But of course the situation could change. Given the long incubation period of the virus, we may see more cases in the coming weeks,” he added.
The WHO director said that each country where passengers have been repatriated is responsible for monitoring their health.
“The WHO recommendation is that they should be actively monitored in a specific quarantine facility or at home for 42 days from the last exposure, which is May 10, which brings us to June 21,” he said.
As of Tuesday, the WHO He said he has identified 11 caseswith nine of them confirmed, including three people from the cruise ship who died.
The organization said it expects “more cases given the dynamics of spread on a ship and the incubation period of the virus.”
“At the moment, there are no signs that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak. Passengers and crew are being monitored in their countries, where WHO recommends a 42-day quarantine at home or in a facility starting on the day of ship departure,” the WHO added.
Spain reports a new case of hantavirus
A Spanish passenger evacuated from the cruise ship at the center of the hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, according to Spain’s Health Ministry. announced on tuesday.
“The patient who provisionally tested positive yesterday has been confirmed as positive for hantavirus. As for the rest of the people who remained under study at the Gómez Ulla Hospital, the definitive tests have confirmed a total of 13 negative results,” says the Ministry of Health. confirmed in a post on X.
The Ministry of Health reported that the patient had “low-grade fever and mild respiratory symptoms, although he is currently stable and without evident clinical deterioration.”
The passenger with the new confirmed case of hantavirus was in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid, where 13 other Spanish citizens evacuated on Sunday are also staying, all of whom tested negative for the virus.
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The United States announced Monday that a passenger who was evacuated from the ship was experiencing mild symptoms.
In an update on tuesdaySpain’s Health Ministry said the American citizen’s test was inconclusive “and subsequently negative.”
The US Department of Health and Human Services said that 18 American passengers on the MV Hondius and a dual U.S.-British citizen traveled on the State Department’s return airlift Monday.
Fifteen passengers are at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, while two others are being monitored in Atlanta.
One passenger, who previously tested positive for hantavirus, was transported to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for monitoring. As of Monday morning, the individual “was doing well and was not showing any symptoms at this time.” reported Angela Hewlett, medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.
“Two airlift passengers, including one who traveled with mild symptoms in the plane’s biocontainment unit, are now at Emory University’s RESPTC in Atlanta. All individuals at both facilities will receive clinical evaluation and appropriate care and support based on their condition and needs,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.
The 15 passengers of the National Quarantine Unit are currently “in good shape and in good spirits.” Dr. Michael Wadman said. “They are definitely tired and need to rest.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the risk to public health in the United States it is “considered extremely low at this time.”
“As a precaution, CDC is working to increase awareness of the outbreak among travelers, public health agencies, laboratories, and healthcare professionals across the country.,”added the CDC.
Meanwhile, British Columbia’s top doctor said the four Canadians who were aboard the MV Hondius arrived safely at Victoria International Airport on Sunday and that the arrival “went smoothly.”
“Upon arrival, each individual was thoroughly screened and assessed by Island Health public health teams and we were there under very controlled conditions, wearing appropriate PPE,” Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters Monday, noting that all four “continue to do well and have no symptoms.”
He said they are in a “very critical phase of the incubation period” and the four Canadians were taken directly from the airport to secure, pre-arranged accommodations where they began a minimum 21-day isolation period under the direction and with continued contact of the public health team.
“After speaking with each of the people, I can confirm that two are a couple in their 70s who live in the Yukon Territory. One is a person in their 70s who resides here in the island’s health region and the other is a person in their 50s from British Columbia who currently lives abroad,” he added.
Dutch hospital staff in quarantine
Twelve employees at a Dutch hospital where a passenger from the MV Hondius is being treated have to remain in quarantine for six weeks after improperly handling bodily fluids. Radbound University Medical Center said in a statement. on Mondays.
“At the time of admission, blood was drawn from the patient. This blood was processed according to the standard procedure. Due to the nature of the virus, this blood should have been processed according to a stricter procedure,” the medical center said.
The medical center stated that “the most up-to-date international standards had not been applied when disposing of patient urine.”
Due to the nature of the virus, Dutch employees will enter “preventive quarantine” for six weeks as a precaution, the medical center said.
“Although the possibility of actual infection is very small, these measures have a great impact on everyone involved. We regret that this happened in our UMC. We will carefully investigate the course of events to learn from this and be able to prevent it in the future,” said Bertine Lahuis, president of the executive board of Radboud UMC.
“Of course, we will ensure that the colleagues involved receive all the support they need. We greatly appreciate your and your colleagues’ commitment to ensuring that patient care runs smoothly. In the meantime, our UMC is ready to admit new patients if necessary,” Lahuis added.
Evacuation of the MV Hondius is completed
A total of 87 passengers and 35 crew were escorted from the ship to shore in Tenerife by staff in full-body protective gear and respiratory masks in a carefully choreographed effort that ended Monday night.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch company that operates the cruise, said in a statement on Monday The ship is headed to Rotterdam, Netherlands, and is expected to arrive in six days with a tentative arrival date of May 17.
“All guests and a limited number of crew members have been transferred from the m/v Hondius to the waiting aircraft. The total number of people repatriated to their home countries and the Netherlands is 122 (35 crew, 87 guests),” Oceanwide Expeditions added.
The cruise operator thanked the local authorities of the Canary Islands for their support in facilitating the transfer of passengers.
“This process, as well as the previous stages of this operation, would not have been possible without the support of the Dutch authorities and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the people of the Canary Islands for their contributions to this joint humanitarian effort, as well as to the Spanish Government for its rapid preparations and important logistical support,” the statement added.
Prior to the final transfer of guests and crew, the MV Hondius made reservations in Granadilla and took on necessary supplies prior to transit to Rotterdam on Monday morning.
The ship currently has 25 crew members on board, in addition to two medical professionals who accompany the ship for continuous medical monitoring during the voyage, the company said.
“At this time, the exact procedures related to our arrival in Rotterdam remain under discussion. We can confirm that the m/v Hondius will undergo sanitation upon arrival,” Oceanwide Expeditions added.
All remaining crew on board will comply with medical examinations and quarantine conditions set by Dutch authorities once they arrive in Rotterdam.
All guests’ luggage remains on board the MV Hondius and the ship’s operators are in direct contact with guests regarding the return of their luggage upon arrival in the Netherlands.
— With files from The Associated Press
