The health condition of five Ukrainian citizens, crew members of the MV Hondius cruise liner, where cases of hantavirus were recorded, is currently satisfactory, and no signs of the disease have been detected.
This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the morning of May 7, a correspondent of Suspilny reports.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of the morning of May 7, the ship is heading to the Canary Islands in Spain.
“The arrival is scheduled for May 9. After the vessel arrives, a medical examination of all passengers and crew members will be conducted. The health of five Ukrainian citizens, members of the MV Hondius crew, is satisfactory, no signs of illness have been detected in them,” the department said.
It is noted that the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands continues to maintain constant contact with a representative of the operating company.
In total, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five people with symptoms of hantavirus were evacuated from the ship. Two of them were confirmed to have hantavirus. They are currently undergoing treatment in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Zurich, Switzerland. The other three people suspected of having the disease were transported to the Netherlands and Germany.
The case is under special control of the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands, and the Consulate of Ukraine in Malaga, Ukrainian diplomats said.
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe illness in humans, including damage to the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Rodents are the carriers of this infection. The World Health Organization has stated that some forms of the infection have a mortality rate of up to 50%.
According to the WHO, humans are most often infected through contact with the urine, saliva, or feces of infected rodents. The virus can also enter the body through inhalation of contaminated dust while cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
What is known about the events on the liner?
According to the itinerary on the ship's website, the MV Hondius departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina on March 20 and ended its journey on May 4 in Cape Verde. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told the Public that there were five Ukrainians on board. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control is conducting a thorough examination of the ship to determine which passengers require urgent evacuation.
“Some of the people on board the ship are couples sharing cabins, so it's quite close contact,” said WHO representative Maria van Kerkhove.
According to her, there is an assumption that the first patient could have contracted the virus before boarding the ship.
On May 6, the Spanish Ministry of Health announced that the country would welcome the ship to the Canary Islands. However, the head of the Canary Islands government, Fernando Clavijo, said he was opposed to the MV Hondius docking in the archipelago.
As of May 6, three deceased passengers and seven cases of infection have been officially reported, two of which are laboratory confirmed (citizens of Switzerland and the United Kingdom), and five more are probable.
According to preliminary data, the source of the infection may have been a Dutch couple who contracted the virus in South America. They then set off on a trip during which the virus could have spread to other passengers. Both later died.