A deadly respiratory viral outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has spurred fears about another pandemic.
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both say the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius — which has infected eight people and left three dead — has low risk to public health.
Hantavirus, the name for viruses derived from rodents that can infect humans, aren’t typically transmissible from person to person. However, the Andes virus type aboard the Hondius is known to spread between people, albeit rarely, and most often from prolonged, close contact with a symptomatic person who has the respiratory disease, according to the CDC.
WHO said there are currently no symptomatic passengers on board. The passengers have been on the ship since April 1, and they’re set to disembark May 11, which would be at the end of when symptoms can occur between 1 and 6 weeks.
Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor College of Medicine's National School of Tropical Medicine, said there may be some new cases arrising as people get set to head to their home countries. However, it’s unlikely to cause a wider epidemic, let alone a pandemic, given how the virus has spread.
