The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in May is over, putting an end to the three-month saga. On Thursday, the WHO stated that the last identified contact of an exposed person has completed quarantine and tested negative for the virus. “All identified contacts have completed the 42 day follow-up period by local health authorities in line with WHO guidance. The completion of the contact follow up without detection of additional secondary cases demonstrates effective
interruption of transmission and confirms outbreak containment,” the WHO said. “This outbreak no longer poses a public health risk and no further related transmission is expected.” Three people died and a total of 13 people were infected in the outbreak, the WHO says. Health Canada confirmed to Global News on June 24 that the 34 Canadians who may have had exposure to Andes hantavirus related to the cruise ship have now completed their self-isolation and monitoring period. Nine Canadians located in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.
were deemed to have experienced “high risk exposure,” with one Canadian testing positive for the virus. As of June 9, that person has recovered, according to health officials.
MV Hondius, hantavirus outbreak, World Health Organization, WHO, Andes hantavirus, Health Canada, quarantine, 42 day follow-up, self-isolation and monitoring, high risk exposure
So it’s over now? Crazy that a cruise can just spread stuff like that.
I don’t get how they can say “over” if there was like one positive person in Canada. Like… are they sure it wasn’t missed or something? People were quarantined but humans are bad at following instructions, sadly.
42 days follow-up and negative tests means nothing to me tbh. Hantavirus can be sneaky, right? Also who even knows what ship conditions were, like did they clean the vents or whatever. I hope those 3 deaths were the end of it but I’m skeptical.
This is why I don’t do cruises. First I heard it was “Andes hantavirus” like it was from the mountains (??), then it was just on a ship. Now it’s “no public health risk” which feels like a PR way of saying wait and see. Hopefully those Canadians are really done isolating.