Experts race to write guidance to contain first ship-borne hantavirus outbreak
Key takeaways
- The hantavirus outbreak – which has killed three people among at least eight suspected or confirmed infections – is the first ever recorded on a cruise ship, so some new protocols are needed.
- None of the passengers on the ship now have symptoms, the ship’s operator has said.
- Officials are also seeking tips from Argentina, where a previous outbreak of the Andes virus, the same strain as on the ship, was snuffed out in 2019.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize As the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak sails towards Tenerife, World Health Organization (WHO) officials are racing to draw up step-by-step guidance for what should happen next for the nearly 150 passengers when they finally reach land on Sunday.
The hantavirus outbreak – which has killed three people among at least eight suspected or confirmed infections – is the first ever recorded on a cruise ship, so some new protocols are needed.
Half a dozen current and former World Health Organization (WHO) officials and hantavirus experts said the outbreak could be managed by adapting standard public health steps, like isolating sick passengers or those who may have been in contact with them. None of the passengers on the ship now have symptoms, the ship’s operator has said.