A Hantavirus outbreak has occurred on the passenger ship MV Hondius, carrying over 150 people from 23 countries, traveling from Argentina to the Cape Verde islands in West Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean. Three passengers have died from Hantavirus, but the ship continues its journey. A Turkish passenger on board described the latest situation.
“Elchi” reports that a Hantavirus outbreak has occurred on the passenger ship MV Hondius, carrying over 150 people from 23 countries, traveling from Argentina to the Cape Verde islands in West Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean.
After three people died from Hantavirus, new cases of infection were detected. An emergency ship and an emergency plane provided support, and the patients were taken to South Africa. Turkish passenger Emin Yoğurtçuoğlu, who is on the ship, said: “Currently, no one is sick, there are no new cases of infection, and no one is in quarantine. It has not been proven that the first passenger who died on the ship died from Hantavirus. It has not been proven whether it was a variant of it.” The World Health Organization also stated that no other people were showing symptoms. The organization estimates that the first case was infected before boarding the ship.
It was emphasized that the ship stopped at several islands off the African coast, and some of them had a large number of rodents.
Heading towards the Canary Islands
The ship is currently sailing from the coast of South Africa towards the Canary Islands of Spain. Spain announced that a comprehensive investigation, a full inspection, complete disinfection of the ship, and, of course, a risk assessment for the passengers on board would be carried out.
Hantavirus, transmitted by rodents, causes symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle pain in humans. The virus, which can also cause respiratory failure, can lead to internal bleeding and kidney failure in some cases.
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