South African health authorities find two cases of Hantavirus Symptome on Hondius
South African health authorities detected hantavirus symptome linked to the Andes type in two passengers on the cruise ship Hondius. One patient, a Briton, is being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg, while the ship remains anchored off Cape Verde with about 150 people on board.
Andes type on the Hondius
The Institute for Infectious Diseases found the pathogen after the Briton’s result, and the deceased Dutch patient was tested afterward. Health authorities say the Andes type is the one hantavirus that can also spread from person to person through close, prolonged contact. That detail now shapes the handling of everyone still tied to the ship, because the Hondius had already been linked to three passenger deaths.
Those deaths included an elderly Dutch couple and one person from Germany. Oceanwide Expeditions said the German victim was a woman. The World Health Organization currently assumes a total of eight hantavirus cases in connection with the ship, a higher count than the two passengers in whom South African health authorities detected the Andes type.
Cape Verde and the Netherlands
Three additional people were flown out of Cape Verde the morning after the report, including two ill crew members and the contact person of the deceased German passenger. Oceanwide Expeditions said the three were being brought to the Netherlands. The contact person had not been confirmed to be infected and had shown no symptoms so far.
The Hondius had originally departed from Argentina. At the time of the report, the ship was anchored off Cape Verde in West Africa, leaving the remaining passengers waiting for the next step in a case that now involves South African health authorities, the World Health Organization, and Oceanwide Expeditions.
Spain and Tenerife
Spain said the remaining passengers would sail to Tenerife in the Canary Islands and expected them to arrive within three to four days. Spain said it decided to allow the ship to dock in the Canary Islands in coordination with the World Health Organization and the European Union. Tenerife has a clinic specialized in epidemics that is supposed to examine and, if necessary, treat the crew and passengers.
Fernando Clavijo protested against the plan and demanded a “dringendes Treffen” with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, citing “fehlende Transparenz.” Spain’s health minister, Mónica García, said the operation posed “kein Risiko für die Kanaren” and said all remaining people on board were asymptomatic.
