The World Health Organization (WHO) stated this Thursday that the hantavirus outbreak detected on a cruise ship, which has left three dead, does not constitute either “the beginning of an epidemic” or “a pandemic.”
“It is not the beginning of an epidemic. It is not the beginning of a pandemic but it is the ideal occasion to remember that investments in research into pathogens like this are essential, since treatments, detection tests and vaccines save lives”Maria Van Kerkhove, director of the WHO department for prevention and preparedness against epidemics and pandemics, told the press in Geneva.
Likewise, experts were clear in ensuring that the hantavirus is not the same as the coronavirus and they rule out, for now, that it can spread throughout the world.
1 / 13 | Inside the MV Hondius: this is what the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus outbreak looks like. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying nearly 150 people, remains off Cape Verde after three passengers died and several others became seriously ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak. – The Associated Press
“This is not covid. This is not influenza. It is transmitted in a very, very different way, so different precautions are being taken”detailed Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management Department.
They recognize that there are still many doubts about the hantavirus and explained, in their opinion, what happened on the ship where the cases originated.
“There have been a lot of questions about transmission and what is really happening. What we do know is that, in previous outbreaks of the Andes virus, there have been cases of person-to-person transmission, primarily between close contacts, either during clinical care or between people who have had close physical contact. We believe that is happening, and that also happened in this case on the boatbetween the couple that corresponded to the first and second caseand also involving a doctor who provided care,” Kerkhove said.
On the other hand, the WHO referred to the confirmed cases on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, and was making a crossing through the South Atlantic bound for Cape Verde.
“So far, as you have heard, we have eight cases: five of them confirmed and three who, unfortunately, died.. We have no more symptomatic patients among passengers or crew on board, which is a good sign. But, of course, there is a long incubation period for the Andes virus,” said the acting director of the WHO Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Threats Management.
During the press conference, in addition, WHO specialists detailed that different processes have been carried out inside the ship to minimize the spread of the hantavirus.
“We know that they have taken some precautions on board to try to minimize the risk. They have recommended disinfection of the rooms, they have confined people in their cabins while they are supplied with food and waterand have asked, as a precaution, that anyone leaving their room wear a medical mask,” Kerkhove explained.
Meanwhile, the WHO suggested: “We certainly recommend that people caring for those suspected of having Andes virus or hantavirus use a higher level of personal protective equipment. That guidance has been given to people on board.”
On the other hand, Kerkhove referred to other cases that have been detected. “There are also the two patients hospitalized in the Netherlands and one patient in intensive care in South Africa. I am very happy to say that the patient in South Africa is improving and the two patients in the Netherlands are stable. So it is actually very good news.”
About the transmission of the virus
The WHO indicated that, in previous outbreaks associated with the Andes virus – a hantavirus variant identified in South America – cases of transmission between people have been recorded, mainly between close contacts, such as family members, partners or medical personnel during clinical care.
Likewise, they explained that this virus is related to the recent cases because the hantavirus detected on the cruise belongs to a line similar to that of the Andes virus, known to be one of the few variants with evidence of limited contagion between humans.
“What makes this situation particular is the closeness and overcrowding in a confined space. We had a similar situation in Argentina between 2018 and 2019, when a symptomatic person attended a social gathering. That caused many people to become infected. Now we are seeing something similar: a cluster of cases in a closed space, with close and prolonged contact,” explained Dr. Abdirahman Mohamud of the WHO.
“Does that mean the disease will spread to the rest of the world? Not necessarily,” Mohamud added.
“The outbreak we had in Argentina in 2018 ended with only 34 cases. Since then we have had similar situations. That is why I want to insist that, if we follow the measures of public health and apply the lessons learned in Argentina—especially in contact tracing and isolation—, we can break the chain of transmission. This does not have to become a major epidemic. “It is a specific and confined environment, where people interact for a long time and at close range,” said the doctor.
An opportunity to learn
The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, added in his meeting with the media that solidarity is the best immunity that exists, but that it is important not to neglect investment in health security, in vaccines and preventive campaigns, and that he hopes that the hantavirus outbreak that is being recorded makes the United States and Argentina reconsider their departure from this organizationwhich in both cases has already become effective.
“I think they will reconsider their decisions because they can see how important universality is for health security, since viruses do not care about our politics, nor our borders, nor all the excuses we may have,” said the expert.