New Delhi. The Hantavirus infection, which originated on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, has now spread to remote areas of Europe and the South Atlantic. Health agencies have been alerted after two new suspected cases were found on the Spanish and British islands of Tristan da Cunha.
However, the WHO reiterated that the risk to the general public is currently very low and the virus does not spread as rapidly as COVID-19. According to the WHO, eight people associated with the ship have fallen ill so far, with six cases confirmed to be of the Andes strain of hantavirus. Four infected patients remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
No new symptoms were found on board.
The MV Hondius is currently headed to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, where it is expected to arrive today. Spain has made special arrangements for disembarking passengers. Passengers and crew will be transported to an isolated area by small boats and then transported to the airport by escorted vehicles.
The UK’s Health Security Agency has also confirmed a British passenger on the island of Tristan da Cunha, considered the world’s most remote inhabited island, has developed suspicious symptoms. The US and UK are sending special aircraft to evacuate their citizens. The 17 US citizens on board will be placed in the National Quarantine Unit.
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