Arabic version: تتزايد الجهود العالمية لتتبع ركاب السفينة السياحية بعد حالات فيروس هانتا

Health authorities worldwide are actively tracing passengers who disembarked from the MV Hondius cruise ship prior to a detected hantavirus outbreak. According to BBC News, five cases have been confirmed, including three deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that this outbreak should not be seen as the precursor to a pandemic similar to COVID-19, as the hantavirus strain spreads through “close, intimate contact”. However, due to the disease’s incubation period of up to six weeks, more cases may emerge.

Initially, around 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries were on board the luxury cruise, which began its journey on April 1 from Ushuaia, Argentina. Many passengers disembarked on April 24 at St Helena, shortly before the first confirmed case was reported on May 4.

The WHO is coordinating with officials in at least 12 countries, including Canada, Germany, and the United States, to monitor individuals who returned home. Notably, three British nationals are suspected of having the virus, while health agencies in various U.S. states are also monitoring individuals from the cruise ship.

As the MV Hondius makes its way to Spain’s Canary Islands, concerns have arisen among local residents regarding the ship’s arrival. Spanish authorities have agreed to allow the ship to dock in Tenerife, where passengers will undergo medical assessments before returning to their home countries. However, the president of the Canary Islands has expressed opposition to the docking, citing a lack of sufficient information regarding the health risks.