A suspected outbreak of hantavirus, a rare but deadly disease that attacks the lungs, has left three people dead and several others seriously ill aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Here’s what we know about the cruise and the virus that made headlines again last year after it killed Gene Hackman. Wife of 65 years, Betsy Arakawa.
What’s going on?
Global health officials and the cruise line, Oceanwide Expeditions, are investigating and working to contain the suspected rat-borne illness on the MV Hondius – a Dutch-flagged vessel, according to the World Health Organization.
On Monday, the WHO announced that a luxury cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew had two lab-confirmed cases and five suspected cases of hantavirus. Three deaths are included in that number.
This ship, which is on a 46-day journey from Antarctica to Argentina, is still anchored off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. During a press conference, WHO officials said they are planning to medically discharge two people suspected of having the disease.
The ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and traveled across the Atlantic with many stops in remote and diverse environments, according to the WHO.
“The extent of passenger contact with local wildlife during the journey, or prior to boarding in Ushuaia, has not been determined,” the organization said in a statement.
What we know about hantavirus
Generally, hantavirus is spread by inhaling particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of wild rodents.
“What we don’t know about the current outbreak is that someone entered the ship and was already sick or there were rats on the ship,” said Dr. Gaby Frank, director of the Johns Hopkins Special Pathogens Center.
However, there is a type of hantavirus that can be spread from person to person, known as the Andes virus, Frank said.
In such a case, a person first becomes infected with the contaminated particles of a wild mouse, and after being infected with the virus, it is passed on to another person.
There are 50 types of hantavirus. The virus found in the Americas often causes heart disease, a condition that affects the heart and lungs, according to Frank.
There have been 890 laboratory-confirmed cases of hantavirus disease reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993, according to most. latest data from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The data suggest that getting hantavirus is rare, said Dr. Afif El-Hasan, a member of the national board of directors of the American Lung Assn.
“This being said, it may be misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to the flu or another disease,” El-Hasan said. “And many people may have died or had hantavirus but it was not detected.”
There is no vaccine or specific antiviral drug for hantavirius.
ICU treatment may include intubation and oxygen therapy, fluid replacement and the use of medications to lower blood pressure, according to the American Lung Assn.
Know the symptoms of hantavirus and next steps
Early symptoms of hantavirus are similar to the flu and include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, according to the CDC. Symptoms of these symptoms begin to appear within one to eight weeks after contact with an infected mouse.
Half of those who get the virus also suffer from headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Four to 10 days after the first stage of the illness, another cycle of symptoms may appear – including coughing, shortness of breath, and possible chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid.
Although getting hantavirus in the United States continues to be a rare event, El-Hasan said, people should take these early symptoms seriously and seek medical help immediately.
Hantavirus can be dangerous. CDC officials said 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms can die from the disease.
A way to protect yourself
Hantavirus cases can occur year-round, but the peak seasons in the United States are spring and summer, which coincide with the breeding seasons for deer mice.
To reduce the risk of infection, keep mice out of your house, workplace, shed, closet, car or other enclosed spaces.
Los Angeles County public health officials offer suggestions on how to keep rats away, including:
- To cover holes, the width of a pencil or more, mice can enter.
- Place snap traps to catch any mice. The CDC warns against using glue or live traps because they can scare mice, causing them to urinate, increasing your chances of exposure to any virus they may be carrying.
- Store all food in rodent-proof containers.
If you find evidence of rodents in a space you frequent, local and state officials advise:
- Before cleaning, ventilate the area for 30 minutes. Equip yourself with rubber or plastic gloves, an N-95 mask and disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water.
- While cleaning, spray the stained areas with your disinfectant and let it soak for at least five minutes. Do not sweep or clean the area, movement can move infectious materials into the air. Instead, use paper towels, a sponge or a mop to clean. When you’re done put everything, including cleaning supplies, in a bag and throw it in your trash can.
