"Fatality Rate Up to 40%"... How Far Has the Hantavirus Outbreak Spread on the Cruise Ship [Reading Science]

Three Dead on Cruise Ship Departing from Argentina... WHO: "Possibility of Andes Virus"
Experts Warn "Premature to Conclude Human-to-Human Transmission"... Hundreds Infected Annually in Korea

International health authorities are on high alert after a hantavirus infection occurred on the cruise ship 'MV Hondius,' which departed from Argentina and was crossing the Atlantic, resulting in fatalities.

Some experts have raised the possibility of the 'Andes virus' from South America and have even mentioned the potential for limited human-to-human transmission. However, current analyses suggest that scenarios such as joint exposure or environmental infection should also be considered.

The polar exploration cruise ship 'MV Hondius' departed from Argentina. Recently, a case of hantavirus infection occurred on this vessel, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to initiate an epidemiological investigation. Provided by Oceanwide Expeditions

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the infections occurred between April 6 and April 28. So far, two confirmed and five suspected cases have been reported, with three deaths among them. The first patient had stayed in Argentina just before departure, and a female close contact also subsequently died.

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through the excreta, saliva, or urine of rodents. In particular, dried excreta can become airborne as fine particles and be inhaled, leading to infection. Human-to-human transmission is known to be extremely rare, but limited cases have been reported with the Andes virus in South America.

"Difficult to Conclude Human-to-Human Transmission"... Closed-Space Epidemiology Is Key

Jaehoon Jeong, professor at the Department of Preventive Medicine at Korea University College of Medicine, told the Korea Science and Technology Media Center (SMCK), "The first fatality's stay in Argentina and the absence of rodents found on board point to the possibility of Andes virus. However, at this stage, it is essential to be extremely cautious before concluding that direct human-to-human transmission has occurred."

Experts believe that the key issue in this situation is not simply whether infection occurred, but the identification of the transmission route. In a closed ship environment, what appears to be human-to-human transmission could also be due to joint exposure or environmental contamination.

Professor Jeong stated, "Indirect infection through shared food or storage areas, the circulation of contaminated particles within ventilation systems, or shared bedding and towels is entirely possible. It is extremely difficult to distinguish epidemiologically between environmental exposure and direct transmission."

Benjamin Brennan, professor at the Virus Research Centre at the University of Glasgow in the UK, also commented, "The WHO currently assumes a scenario involving both rodent exposure and limited human-to-human transmission, but a definitive conclusion can only be drawn after epidemiological and genomic analyses are completed."

Concept image of Hantavirus. Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through the excreta and saliva of rodents, and limited human-to-human transmission has also been reported in certain Andes virus strains. Provided by Getty Images Bank

Experts especially consider whether the virus is the Andes strain to be a key variable in interpreting this situation. Cesar Lopez-Camacho, a researcher at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, stated, "Most hantavirus cases initially raise suspicion of environmental exposure, but if it is the Andes virus, the possibility of human-to-human transmission must also be considered. Diagnosis, genomic analysis, and epidemiological investigation must all proceed rapidly and simultaneously."

"This Is Not Like COVID-19"... Hundreds Infected Each Year in Korea Too

Experts believe that the likelihood of this incident developing into a large-scale pandemic like COVID-19 is low, as hantavirus is not an airborne virus by nature and human-to-human transmission is extremely limited.

Amos Garcia Rojas, former epidemiological expert at the Canary Islands Health Authority in Spain, explained, "This is completely different from viruses like COVID-19 that are transmitted through the air. Even in the Andes virus, human-to-human transmission has only been rarely observed in cases of very close and prolonged contact."

However, the fatality rate is quite high. According to experts, the fatality rate for Andes virus is around 40%, and for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Hantaan virus and Seoul virus in Korea, the fatality rate exceeds 5%.

Above all, there is no effective antiviral treatment for hantavirus, so early diagnosis and critical care are key to survival. Initial symptoms resemble those of a common cold, such as fever and muscle pain, but the illness can rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or multiple organ failure.

Korea is not free from hantavirus either. In 1976, Professor Ho Wang Lee first isolated the 'Hantaan virus' from striped field mice near the Hantan River, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome still affects 300 to 400 people annually in Korea.

Professor Jeong emphasized, "This incident should serve to raise awareness of hantavirus infection and enhance early conservative treatment capabilities. In closed-space epidemiology, it is difficult to distinguish between direct transmission and joint exposure, so it is not possible at the current stage to definitively conclude human-to-human transmission."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.