Hantavirus outbreak risk to general public low, expert says
8 reported3 unconfirmed
A public health expert has stated that the current hantavirus outbreak, while unique due to its occurrence on a cruise ship, poses a low risk to the general public at this time. The expert noted that previous hantavirus outbreaks have been contained, though none were on a cruise ship. The outbreak involves approximately 150 people of 23 nationalities, and some passengers disembarked before the outbreak was detected, taking commercial flights home. The Andes strain of hantavirus, which can transmit from human to human, is a particular concern. No approved vaccine, specific therapeutic, or rapid diagnostic test exists for this strain, so public health measures rely on isolation, quarantine, and N95 masks. The World Health Organization has taken the lead on the response, and the UK Health Security Agency has been praised for its proactive approach, including using self-contained flats at Arrowe Park hospital for isolation. Scientists are expediting vaccine studies and testing existing drugs against hantavirus.
What’s reported
The risk to the general public is currently low, according to the expert.
The outbreak is on a cruise ship with about 150 people of 23 nationalities.
Some passengers disembarked before the outbreak was detected and took commercial flights home.
The Andes strain of hantavirus can transmit from human to human and has caused super-spreading events.
No approved vaccine, specific therapeutic, or rapid diagnostic test exists for this strain.
The WHO has taken the lead on the response after the US quit the WHO and fired all CDC cruise inspectors.
The UK Health Security Agency, headed by Prof Susan Hopkins, has used self-contained flats at Arrowe Park hospital for isolation.
Scientists are expediting vaccine studies and testing existing drugs against hantavirus.
Open questions
How many others were infected on the cruise ship, with results expected in days.
Whether secondary contacts on flights and elsewhere were infected from passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was identified, with results expected in weeks.
Whether new infections will arise outside the original cruise ship group.
Key figures
Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, author of How Not to Die (Too Soon)
Prof Susan Hopkins, head of the UK Health Security Agency
Sources: The Guardian
