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Andes hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius triggers international response

An outbreak of the rare Andes hantavirus has been identified on the cruise ship MV Hondius, carrying 149 passengers. Scientific attention is focused on this strain because it is the only hantavirus known to allow for human-to-human transmission, primarily through close contact. So far, at least five confirmed cases and three deaths have been reported, with the first fatality occurring on April 11. Health authorities in multiple countries, including the UK, USA, Germany, and Spain, are tracking passengers who disembarked at St. Helena on April 24. The virus has a long incubation period of up to 50 days, complicating contact tracing efforts. Despite the alarm, the WHO and ECDC state that the risk to the general public remains low and that the virus does not spread as easily as respiratory pathogens like COVID-19. Meanwhile, an oncologist passenger stepped in to provide medical care after the ship's doctor fell ill with the virus.

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