The World Health Organization has reported a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness cases linked to a cruise ship sailing under the Dutch flag.
According to the report, an alert was received on May 2 from the United Kingdom’s national health authorities regarding the vessel, which had departed from Ushuaia. The ship was carrying 147 people, including 88 passengers and 59 crew members from around 23 different nationalities.
As of May 6, authorities recorded:
2 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases
5 suspected cases
3 deaths
1 patient in critical condition
3 individuals with mild symptoms
Reported symptoms included fever, gastrointestinal complications, rapidly developing pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock.
The identified virus is the Andes hantavirus, a rare strain that can occasionally spread between people during close and prolonged contact. However, the main transmission route remains contact with urine, saliva, or droppings from infected rodents.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and WHO currently assess the risk to the general public as very low. Health monitoring and preventive measures continue aboard the vessel.
Officials also stated that the situation in Armenia remains under control, with no immediate risk to the population. At this time, WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions related to the incident.
