Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak: What to know

Three people have died and several more were sickened from having contracted what is believed to be a species of the deadly hantavirus aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship due to stop in Antarctica and beyond. The species, called Andes, is found mostly in South America, where the ship departed from Argentina. 

Here are questions and answers about the virus and the outbreak.

What caused the outbreak?

The Argentine government suspects that a Dutch couple got the virus during a bird-watching event held at a garbage dump before boarding the ship, according to The Associated Press.

What is the ship, and where is the ship now?

It’s the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius. It left Cape Verde, bound for Spain’s Canary Islands, The AP reported Thursday afternoon. There are almost 150 people aboard. The AP reported that the ship had departed Argentina on April 1, with scheduled stops to include Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. But the schedule apparently changed due to the outbreak. The ship's owners could not be reached for comment.

What is being done for the passengers?

In one case, a German passenger is heading to a specialized hospital for treatment; in another, a Dutch patient went to a hospital in the Netherlands. The Dutch government is assessing the risks. There is also a new case confirmed in Switzerland.

How dangerous is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are from a virus family that can lead to serious injury or even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hantavirus webpage.

How is the hantavirus spread?

Mainly by rodents.

"People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare," the website says.

One type of hantavirus, the Andes virus, which is connected to the cruise ship, can spread from person to person, although only through close contact.

"This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with the ill person," the site says.

What are the symptoms, and when do they start?

Andes symptoms can develop between four and 42 days after exposure. The virus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Symptoms begin one to eight weeks following exposure. Early on, the CDC says, the symptoms can include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, with about half of patients also having dizziness, headaches, chills and abdominal trouble. Then, four to 10 days after the initial phase, the late symptoms start, including shortness of breath and coughing, as well as, possibly, chest tightness and fluid in the lungs.

What are the chances of dying?

For Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the fatality rate is 38% of those who develop respiratory symptoms.

What is the treatment?

There is no treatment and no vaccines available, and symptoms may develop quickly, so care is generally focused on managing the virus symptoms.

How can risk be reduced?

Keep distance from someone who may have the virus, don’t share utensils, don’t kiss or have sex with the person, and wash your hands frequently, the CDC says.

What are the risks to the world?

The top epidemic expert of the World Health Organization told The AP: "This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease." The risk, the WHO says, is low.

"The outbreak is being managed through coordinated international response, and includes in-depth investigations, case isolation and care, medical evacuation and laboratory investigations," the WHO said in a May 4 update.

How common are outbreaks aboard cruise ships?

Generally uncommon, but there have been outbreaks so far this year on Princess Cruises of Norovirus, and aboard Oceania and Regent Seven Seas of E. coli, according to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program tracker, which reports when ships are under its jurisdiction and 3% or more of those aboard report symptoms. 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.