{Excerpt}
4. Hantavirus disease outbreak on cruise ship - South Atlantic - 2026
Overview: Update (data cut-off 10.00 a.m.)
Updates on new reported cases
-- As of 13 May, and since the previous update on 12 May 2026, no new cases or deaths have been reported.
-- A repatriated asymptomatic passenger from the United States had inconclusive test results and has been reclassified as such pending additional laboratory tests.
-- A second US citizen was reported who developed mild symptoms during evacuation and tested negative for the Andes virus.
Other news
-- The cruise ship MV Hondius arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife on Sunday 10 May.
-- Disembarkation of passengers and part of the crew was carried out and completed on 11 May.
-- The passengers and crew members were transported to the airport and repatriated via evacuation flights throughout 10 and 11 May.
-- Evacuation was carried out from Tenerife to the following countries:
- Spain (14),
- France (5),
- Canada (4),
- the Netherlands (26),
- UK (22),
- Ireland (2),
- Turkey (3), and
- the US (17).
-- Preliminary analysis of genome sequences from some of the positive cases confirmed a high level of genetic similarity between isolates, likely indicating an initial zoonotic spillover event followed by human-to-human transmission.
-- Further results from genomic sequences are pending.
Summary
-- Since the start of the outbreak and as of 12 May 2026, 11 cases (eight confirmed, two probable and one inconclusive) have been reported.
-- Of these, three have passed away.
-- Infection prevention measures, including use of personal protective equipment, isolation of symptomatic individuals and social distancing, have been recommended.
-- Further investigations are ongoing to identify a potential source of exposure.
Background
-- On 2 May 2026, the Netherlands informed ECDC about an outbreak of unknown aetiology on a cruise liner under the Dutch flag, the MV Hondius.
-- The ship had been on a cruise in the Southern Atlantic after departing from Argentina on 1 April and was en route to Cabo Verde.
-- The cruise followed an itinerary including stops on mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St Helena, and Ascension Island with Cabo Verde as the next port of call.
-- A total of 149 persons embarked the ship at the beginning of the journey, including 88 passengers and 61 crew.
-- Passengers and crew represent 23 nationalities, including several EU/EEA countries as well as other countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Japan, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
(...)
ECDC assessment:
-- Person-to-person transmission of ANDV has only been documented following close and prolonged contact.
-- The current hypothesis is that some passengers were exposed to ANDV while spending time in Argentina (where ANDV is endemic) before embarking the ship, and may subsequently have transmitted the virus to other passengers onboard.
-- Measures are already implemented onboard to reduce the likelihood of infection for passengers and crew on the cruise ship.
-- The cruise ship company and the relevant port authorities have also been advised on how to prepare for the management of cases and contacts (e.g. isolation of cases, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, testing, etc).
-- Even if transmission of ANDV were to happen from passengers evacuated from the ship, ANDV does not transmit easily so it is unlikely that it would cause many cases or a widespread outbreak in the community, if infection prevention and control measures are applied.
-- In addition, the natural reservoir for ANDV is not present in Europe, so introduction to the rodent population and potential rodent-to-human transmission in Europe is not expected.
-- The risk to the general population in the EU/EEA from ANDV spreading from this cruise ship outbreak is very low.
Actions:
-- ECDC is liaising with Member States, WHO, and the European Commission to collect more information and coordinate actions.
-- ECDC is supporting response operations through the EUHTF remotely, on site and on the ship in coordination with the affected countries.
-- ECDC published a Threat Assessment Brief on 6 May 2026, and is providing regular updates on its website.
(...)
Source:
____
No comments:
Post a Comment