The World Health Organization (World Health Organization) has confirmed that several passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus during an ongoing outbreak investigation.
According to the WHO’s latest update, eight cases have been laboratory-confirmed for Andes virus infection, while two additional cases are classified as probable. One case remains inconclusive and is still undergoing further testing.
The outbreak has been linked to multiple illnesses and deaths among passengers who were on board the ship during its voyage from Argentina beginning April 1. The WHO reported that three individuals have died in connection with the outbreak, including two confirmed cases and one probable case.
Hantavirus is a rare viral disease that is typically transmitted through contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents. In most cases, it does not spread between humans, although the Andes strain is an exception where limited human-to-human transmission is possible.
Health authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the outbreak, and the overall risk remains assessed as moderate for those directly exposed and low for the general public, according to the WHO.
