More than 100 passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship hit by the hantavirus outbreak have now been evacuated as health officials in several countries monitor passengers and close contacts for possible infections. Eighteen Americans were placed in biocontainment facilities in Nebraska and Georgia.
According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, all 11 reported infections were directly linked to passengers or crew aboard the MV Hondius.
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Hantaviruses are usually spread through contaminated rodent droppings or urine. The Andes virus, identified on the cruise ship, is the only strain known to spread between humans, although experts say it is unlikely to cause a Covid-like pandemic.
Read also | MV Hondius hantavirus cruise ship outbreak: WHO confirms 11 cases
“At the moment there is no indication that we will see the beginning of a larger outbreak,” Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Madrid.
However, he warned that the situation could still be evolving because the virus has a long incubation period, which could lead to more cases in the coming weeks.
LiveMint spoke to Neha Mishra, HOD and Consultant Infectious Diseases at Manipal Hospitals, about how the Andes virus is spreading, its contagiousness and whether it poses any pandemic risk.
Q: How similar is the Andean virus to SARS-CoV-2 and could it cause another pandemic?
It is not at all similar to SARS-CoV-2. This cruise ship outbreak won’t turn into a global pandemic like COVID because it’s much less contagious. Covid spread easily because it infected the upper respiratory tract, so coughing, sneezing and even talking could release the virus into the air.
The Andean virus infects much deeper in the lungs, making it difficult to transmit from person to person.
Q: What are the symptoms of Andean virus?
Symptoms can appear anywhere from about five days after exposure to six weeks later. It usually starts with very generalized symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. These symptoms may resemble the flu or other infections, but in severe cases the disease can progress rapidly.
Q: Is the Andes virus spread through the air like measles or Covid-19?
Not exactly. It doesn’t spread like measles, where someone can walk into a room hours later and still get infected. With hantavirus, people generally need very close and prolonged contact with an infected person for transmission to occur.
Q: How does the virus usually spread?
The most common method of spread is through exposure to rodent droppings or urine. For example, if someone cleans a dusty basement or shed, microscopic particles containing the virus can be stirred up and inhaled. It can also spread through contaminated surfaces if people touch infected material and do not wash their hands properly.
Q: What counts as close and long-term contact?
It depends to some extent on what you do. A cruise ship doctor who tested positive had repeated close encounters while examining the patient face-to-face. Someone who sits next to an infected person for a long time may also be at risk, especially if the infected person is at their most contagious.
Q: Does ventilation matter?
Yes. Poor indoor ventilation can increase the risk of transmission, while outdoor environments are at much lower risk. Cruise ships are unique because they are closed spaces with close contact between passengers.
Q: Should the average person be concerned?
No, definitely not. Previous outbreaks have been successfully contained once containment measures were put in place. Since health authorities already understand how the virus spreads and precautions are already in place, it is not thought to have pandemic potential. Measles outbreaks are actually a much bigger problem now.
