By May 6, the doctor on board the MV Hondius cruise ship had been infected with the disease and was transported to the hospital. That left Stephen Kornfeld, MD, an American tourist and oncologist vacationing aboard the cruise ship, in the position of de facto medical officer following a hantavirus outbreak on the ship. On that day, the MV Hondius,—which left on April 1 from Ushuaia, in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, bound for Cape Verde—brought aboard a new passenger: an infectious-disease expert from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, based in Sweden. The expert remained on board for a few days to personally monitor the situation and put in place the necessary protection protocols. He left the vessel Monday, May 11. We asked Gianfranco Spiteri, MD, head of the ECDC’s Global Epidemic Intelligence and Health Security Section, to explain the situation the expert found on board and what the initial response measures were.
Vanity Fair Italia: When the doctor boarded the ship, what did he find?
Gianfranco Spiteri: Our expert explained that, in general, passengers and crew were calm, cooperative, and aware of the seriousness of the situation. They responsibly followed recommended measures and worked closely with ship personnel and health authorities. Understandably, there was concern and uncertainty, but overall there was a high level of cooperation and compliance with public health recommendations.
What was the health status of the passengers?
Upon arrival on board, infection prevention and control measures were already in place. Passengers and crew were following necessary precautions, including the use of face masks, hand hygiene, monitoring for symptoms, and minimizing close contacts wherever possible. Medical care and monitoring systems were also in place.
Were blood tests for hantavirus positivity also conducted on board?
Testing on board focused on symptomatic individuals and those considered to be at higher risk of exposure, in line with a precautionary approach during ongoing investigations. These included two symptomatic individuals and some high-risk contacts identified through the epidemiological surveys on board.
What is the next step?
The ECDC expert who boarded the ship in Cape Verde on May 6 is currently considered a low-risk contact. He boarded after all symptomatic passengers had already been medically evacuated and has consistently followed infection prevention and control measures, including physical distancing and use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Follow-up measures will be evaluated in accordance with relevant public health protocols and risk assessment procedures.
Could similar situations recur?
Yes. Sporadic outbreaks of hantavirus infections could occur again in the future, particularly in areas where the virus naturally circulates in rodent populations. Andean hantavirus infections remain rare, and person-to-person transmission has been documented only in limited situations involving close and prolonged contact.
What is important for people to know for their general safety?
It is important to know that Andes hantavirus infections are rare and do not spread easily among people. The current risk to the general population remains very low.
Original story appeared in VF Italia.