Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise: No Immediate Threat to India
Concerns Over Hantavirus on MV Hondius
File image of The MV Hondius, Dutch vessel hit by Hantavirus outbreak (Photo: @MarioNawfal/X)
Guwahati, May 8: Amid rising concerns regarding a hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship with international passengers and crew, including two Indians, Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), stated on Friday that the reported cases seem to be isolated and do not currently pose a significant public health risk to India.
This assurance follows confirmation from the World Health Organization (WHO) that two Indian crew members are among those affected on the MV Hondius, where a cluster of hantavirus infections has prompted global health monitoring and contact tracing.
Dr. Kumar emphasized that the hantavirus cases appear to be isolated incidents, with no immediate threat to public health in India, and there is no evidence of community transmission related to this outbreak.
According to WHO reports, five out of eight suspected cases on the vessel have tested positive for hantavirus, with three fatalities already recorded.
Health officials are actively monitoring passengers and crew who disembarked during the cruise and are implementing precautionary measures.
The luxury cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and is scheduled to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands on May 10.
Onboard, there were nearly 150 passengers and crew from 28 different nationalities, including two Indian crew members, 38 from the Philippines, 31 from the UK, 23 from the US, 16 from the Netherlands, and others from Europe and North America.
Dr. Kumar explained that hantaviruses are primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids.
Infections typically occur when individuals inhale aerosolized particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas such as warehouses, ships, barns, and storage facilities.
He noted that, unlike COVID-19, hantavirus does not spread easily between people.
"Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare. Most hantaviruses, particularly those reported in Asia and Europe, do not spread between humans. Limited person-to-person transmission has only been documented with certain South American strains like the Andes virus," Dr. Kumar clarified.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus characterized the outbreak as serious but assessed the overall public health risk as low.
"While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low," Tedros stated during a media briefing.
However, he warned that additional cases could arise due to the virus's incubation period.
"Given the incubation period, it is possible that more cases may be reported," he added.
Dr. Kumar mentioned that symptoms typically manifest between one and five weeks post-exposure, often starting with flu-like signs.
"Common warning signs include sudden fever, severe body aches, headaches, fatigue, chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dry cough," he noted.
"In severe cases, patients may experience breathing difficulties, low blood pressure, or kidney issues with reduced urine output," he added.
Regarding India's preparedness, Dr. Kumar stated that the country possesses adequate laboratory surveillance and diagnostic capabilities to identify and confirm suspected hantavirus infections.
"India has diagnostic facilities for hantavirus infections through the ICMR-National Institute of Virology and the nationwide Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Network of 165 labs, equipped with RT-PCR capabilities for confirming suspected cases," he explained.
He advised individuals working or traveling in rodent-prone environments, such as ships and storage facilities, to maintain hygiene and avoid contact with areas infested by rodents.
Dr. Kumar also cautioned that environmental and urbanization factors could heighten the long-term global risk of rodent-borne infections, including hantavirus.
"Climate change, flooding, unplanned urbanization, poor waste management, and increased human encroachment into rodent habitats can elevate the risk of rodent-borne infections," he stated.
"Heavy rainfall and floods often drive rodent populations into human dwellings and storage areas, increasing exposure risk. Rapid urban growth with inadequate sanitation can further facilitate rodent proliferation," he added.
Despite the outbreak on the cruise ship, Dr. Kumar reiterated that there is currently no sign of widespread transmission and emphasized that standard rodent-control measures, sanitation, and hygiene remain the most effective preventive strategies against hantavirus infections.