Health concern is escalating globally with the continued outbreak of the Hanta virus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, after the World Health Organization confirmed the recording of 11 cases, including three deaths, at a time when the European Union has strengthened health coordination and monitoring procedures in anticipation of any wider spread of the virus.
The organization said that eight laboratory-confirmed cases of the “Andean” strain of the Hanta virus, which is a rare strain capable of transmission between humans, while two cases are still possible, in addition to another unresolved case that is subject to additional analysis in the United States.
She explained that the unresolved case belongs to a person who does not currently show symptoms, after the test results showed a discrepancy between two laboratories, while a new test is awaited to determine the result.
The organization confirmed that the death rate associated with the current outbreak is about 27%, noting that there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus that may cause acute respiratory syndrome.
So far, all infections have been linked to the ship MV Hondius, while the virus is usually transmitted by rodents through urine, feces, or saliva, while the Andean strain is one of the few species capable of being transmitted from one person to another.
In Europe, the European Union announced the strengthening of the information exchange mechanism between member states with the aim of accelerating health coordination and following up on any developments related to the virus, after French calls to unify preventive protocols within the bloc.
The Cypriot Presidency of the European Union Council of Ministers confirmed that the risk to the European population remains “very low”, thanks to current containment measures, noting that transmission of the virus between humans is not easy.
In Britain, the health authorities began transferring about 20 Britons who were on board the ship to home quarantine after completing an initial quarantine period in a hospital near Liverpool, subjecting them to daily health follow-up and periodic examinations for a period of 45 days.
Another group, which includes ten people who were subject to quarantine in St. Helena and Ascension, is preparing to return to Britain to complete isolation, after being in contact with people infected with the virus.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had warned of the possibility of recording additional infections in the coming weeks due to the long incubation period of the virus.