"This is not the start of an epidemic. This is not the start of a pandemic. This is not Covid, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the agency's director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters. The WHO said that five of the eight suspected cases linked to the ship had been confirmed and that other cases may be identified."
"Given the incubation period of the Andes virus, which can be up to six weeks, it's possible that more cases may be reported, the organisation's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a news conference. While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk low."
"Hantaviruses are a group of viruses primarily found in rodents but which can infect humans and cause flu-like symptoms, pulmonary syndrome and respiratory failure. The Andes hantavirus can spread among humans through very close contact, but is less contagious than Covid. There are no vaccines."
A deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has prompted international authorities to trace 29 passengers of 12 nationalities who disembarked on 24 April after the first fatality. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths, with five of eight suspected cases confirmed. The World Health Organization emphasizes this is not a pandemic or epidemic comparable to Covid. Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses causing flu-like symptoms and respiratory failure. The Andes hantavirus spreads through close contact but is less contagious than Covid and has no vaccine. Given the six-week incubation period, additional cases may emerge. Three symptomatic individuals are hospitalized in the Netherlands, and a woman not on the ship is being tested after showing symptoms.
#hantavirus-outbreak #cruise-ship-disease #public-health-response #infectious-disease-tracking #who-assessment
Read at www.theguardian.com
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