The number of confirmed Hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has jumped to six, the World Health Organisation has announced.
Some 22 British passengers and crew on the Dutch vessel hit by the outbreak of the deadly infection, transmitted from rats, are expected to reach Tenerife on Sunday. It is expected they will return to the UK the same day.
Around 150 people are still on the cruise ship which set off from Argentina to Cape Verde and confirmed its first case of the deadly disease on 4 May.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome is a zoonotic, viral respiratory disease caused by hantaviruses, a group of viruses carried by rodents.
The virus is transmitted by the droppings, urine and saliva of rodents such as mice and rats. It can also be contracted through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, chills, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, which are followed by sudden onset of respiratory distress and low blood pressure.
Health workers in protective gear evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship into an ambulance at a port in Praia, Cape Verde. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)Symptoms usually present one to six weeks after initial exposure.
Hantavirus can cause mild flu-like illness, severe respiratory complications and even death.
A total of three people, a Dutch couple and a German woman, have died in the outbreak linked to the cruise ship. The first death occurred on board the vessel on 11 April.
How many Britons are among the hantavirus cases?
Two British nationals are among the six confirmed cases of hantavirus. Neither of them are onboard the MV Hondius. One British man is being treated for the infection in the Netherlands, while the other is receiving treatment in South Africa.
A third British national has been identified as a suspected case on Tristan da Cunha, a remote island which is part of the British overseas territory St Helena.
The UKHSA said it is aware of seven Britons who disembarked the MV Hondius at St Helena on 24 April. Two of these individuals have already returned to the UK independently and are isolating at home, the health agency said.
Will UK nationals returning from the cruise ship be quarantined on arrival?
People who test negative for hantavirus and are not symptomatic will be escorted to a dedicated repatriation flight by Government staff. The flight will be staffed by medical professionals and operate under strict infection control measures, with medicines and medical equipment onboard in case any passengers fall ill during travel.
This photograph shows a view of two people in hazmat suits next to a Bombardier Challenger 605 medical plane allegedly carrying some of the passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius believed to be infected with hantavirus at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam (Photo by Jeffrey Groeneweg / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)When they arrive in the UK, the passengers will be expected to isolate for 45 days, and they will be closely monitored by the UKHSA.
It is understood that any passenger who develops symptoms on the cruise ship before it docks in Tenerife will remain in the Canary Islands for treatment.
What risk do members of the public face?
Health officials maintain that the risk to the general public remains very low.
The WHO said this risk at a global level is low for a number of reasons, including that the human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain of the virus is typically limited and usually occurs among close contacts and within household settings.
It also said while further cases may emerge among individuals exposed to the virus before containment measures were introduced, current measures to tackle the outbreak is expected to limit the risk of further spread.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said: “The risk to the general population remains very low and the public can be reassured that established infection control measures will be put in place at every step of the journey to ensure the safe repatriation of British passengers on board.”
What is the treatment for hantavirus?
There are no antiviral treatments or vaccines licensed to specifically treat hantavirus. Instead, infected individuals are given treatment targeted to addressing their symptoms, such as respiratory support.
Early hospital care and treatment in an intensive care unit can help increase chances of survival.
Hence then, the article about five things to know as cruise ship hantavirus cases increases was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Five things to know as cruise ship hantavirus cases increases )
Also on site :