Hantavirus Cases on Cruise Ship Rise to Eight; WHO Launches Global Contact Tracing Effort

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the number of suspected and confirmed hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship outbreak has risen to eight, prompting an international contact tracing operation as health authorities work to contain the rare and potentially deadly infection.

According to WHO updates, at least three of the cases have been laboratory-confirmed, while the remaining are classified as suspected infections. The outbreak has already resulted in three deaths and has left several others in critical condition or under medical observation. Health officials are closely monitoring passengers and crew aboard the vessel as well as those who disembarked during the voyage.

The cruise ship, identified as the MV Hondius, reportedly departed from Argentina and later travelled through the South Atlantic before reaching waters off West Africa near Cape Verde. The vessel is carrying around 147 passengers and crew members representing multiple nationalities. Following the emergence of symptoms, several individuals were evacuated for medical treatment in different countries, including South Africa and Switzerland.

WHO has stated that the strain involved in the outbreak is the Andes hantavirus, a rare variant primarily found in South America. Unlike most hantavirus strains, which are typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, the Andes strain is known to have a limited capacity for human-to-human transmission, particularly through close contact.

Health authorities in Switzerland recently confirmed a new case in a passenger who had responded to a health alert issued by the cruise operator and sought immediate medical attention. The individual is currently receiving treatment in Zurich, while international agencies continue to trace all possible contacts linked to the ship and subsequent travel routes.

The outbreak has triggered a coordinated global response involving multiple countries and health agencies under the International Health Regulations framework. Laboratories and research institutes in South Africa, Switzerland, Argentina, and Senegal are assisting in diagnostic testing and genetic sequencing of the virus to better understand its transmission pattern.

Despite the severity of the outbreak, WHO officials have emphasized that the overall risk to the general public remains low. However, they have warned that close-contact environments such as cruise ships can increase transmission risks once an infection is introduced.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the original source of infection and whether passengers were exposed before boarding or during the voyage. Meanwhile, medical teams continue to provide care, monitor symptoms, and implement containment measures onboard and across affected countries.