Hantavirus Outbreak at Sea Prompts Monitoring Across Caribbean Ports

Health officials are keeping a close watch on a developing situation at sea, but for now, they’re urging calm across the Caribbean. The Caribbean Public Health Agency says the regional risk from hantavirus remains low, even after a deadly cluster of cases linked to a cruise ship in the Central Atlantic. The vessel, the MV Hondius, was carrying one hundred and forty-seven passengers and crew from more than twenty countries when at least eight infections, three confirmed and five suspected, were reported, along with three deaths. Investigators are still trying to pinpoint where the exposure happened, whether before passengers boarded in Argentina or during the voyage itself. Back in the region, CARPHA says there’s no sign of local spread. Still, officials aren’t taking chances. Surveillance at ports of entry is being tightened as health teams continue to monitor the situation closely.

 

Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director, CARPHA

“Based on the evidence available, the rodent species that maintains this virus in nature is not present in the Caribbean. Therefore there is no established local root of transmission in our region. This rare human to human transmission usually requires intimate or prolonged exposure while the incubation period before symptoms appear is usually one to six weeks. There is no current anti-viral treatment or vaccines. Care is supported, including oxygen therapy and intensive monitoring. So CAPRHA advices our member states to remain vigilant but not alarmed. CARPHA’s Caribbean tailored early warning surveillance and laboratory system mechanism and network is actively monitoring the situation and can detect and respond when needed.”

 

CARPHA remains focused on providing proactive communication with its Member States and the public to ensure accurate information sharing and to reduce misinformation.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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