NEWS SUMMARY
Passengers from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship have been evacuated and transported to several countries worldwide. So far three cruise ship passengers have died, while five other individuals have tested positive for the virus. According to the World Health Organization, the overall risk to the general public remains low.
Hantavirus is mainly transmitted through exposure to the urine, faeces, or saliva of infected rodents, but this particular hantavirus strain is contagious, which means that it is transmitted from human to human. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, chills, fever, gastrointestinal problems and abdominal pain. In severe cases, these may progress rapidly to respiratory distress and low blood pressure. Symptoms can develop anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure.
Although there are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for hantavirus infections, prompt supportive care and immediate admission to a fully equipped intensive care unit can significantly improve survival rates.
