The World Health Organization has provided an update on the evolving situation involving human-to-human transmission of a deadly form of hantavirus on board a Dutch-flagged cruise ship travelling through the Atlantic Ocean.
Three passengers have died and another five cases are suspected on board the ship.
Ontario’s health minister has since confirmed that two of the four Canadians on board the ship have since returned to the province and are actively being monitored.
Concerns are heightened after Dutch officials confirmed that one of the passengers who died had boarded a KLM flight from South Africa to the Netherlands, but became ill and was removed before it took off.
A flight attendant has since been admitted to hospital in Amsterdam with symptoms.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (World Health Organization)
The WHO’s Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says while hantavirus is usually contracted through exposure to rodent droppings or urine, this strain is spread through human to human contact.
“Transmission between people has been associated with close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members, intimate partners and people providing medical care. That appears to be the case in the current situation.”
The ship is now sailing to the Canary Islands and the risk to the people of the Canary Islands is assessed as low.
“The WHO has provided guidance to the ship’s operator on the management of health on board the Hondius. All passengers have been asked to stay in their cabins, their cabins have been disinfected, and anyone who shows symptoms will be isolated immediately.”
