JOHANNESBURG - The World Health Organization (WHO) has made it blatantly clear that the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship cannot be compared to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
During a media briefing on Thursday, the organisation cleared any speculations that this outbreak could mark the start of another pandemic.
“This is not the Coronavirus. It is a different virus, and we know this virus. Hantavirus has been around for a while…It is not a COVID pandemic; it is an outbreak that we see on the ship.
“This is not the same situation we were in six years ago,” WHO said.
Five cases confirmed
There are now five confirmed Hantavirus cases from the Atlantic cruise ship outbreak, with three more suspected.
So far, three deaths have been confirmed.
According to WHO, Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans.
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People are usually infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva, the Organization added.
WHO noted that the species of hantavirus involved in this case is the Andes virus, the only species known to be capable of human-to-human transmission.
“In previous outbreaks of Andes virus, 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,” WHO added.
How three infected people have died
The first case reported was in an elderly man who presented with symptoms on 6 April. He died on the ship on 11 April.
According to the Director General of WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, samples were never taken from the deceased because it was perceived that his symptoms were similar to those of other respiratory diseases.
Ghebreyesus said at the time they had not flagged Hantavirus, until the death of the elderly man's wife.
Her health deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg on 25 April, and she died in hospital a day later. Hantavirus confirmed on 4 May.
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Ghebreyesus said the third death was of a woman on the ship who developed symptoms on 28 April and died on 2 May.
What is the condition of the confirmed cases?
To date, one man who was evacuated on 27 April from the Island of Ascension is currently in South Africa and remains in intensive care.
In the meantime, Ghebreyesus said doctors from Cabo Verde boarded the ship to provide care for three other passengers with symptoms. They were evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment.
Two are in a stable condition in hospital, and one is asymptomatic and is now in Germany, he added.
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The eighth case was in a man who disembarked in Saint Helena.
What happens to those on the ship
According to Ghebreyesus, the ship is currently sailing for the Canary Islands after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain said he would accept the ship.
“WHO has provided guidance to the ship’s operator on the management of health on board the vessel. All passengers have been asked to stay in their cabins, the cabins are being disinfected, and anyone who shows symptoms will be isolated immediately,” he added.