Kamal Ghorui
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In a recent update, India’s Union Health Ministry has activated precautionary surveillance measures after reported cases of hantavirus infection aboard the expedition cruise vessel MV Hondius. As per official information shared through the World Health Organization (WHO) under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework, there are eight probable cases reported onboard the ship so far. Among these, five are laboratory-confirmed infections and three deaths. The reports also suggest that there are two Indian nationals onboard and are reportedly asymptomatic.As per government sources, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is closely monitoring the situation along with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), WHO, and international health authorities.
What WHO saysWHO has assessed the current public health risk as “low.” However, authorities continue to keep a close eye on the hantavirus infections. WHO also stated that currently the only hantavirus strain known to have limited human-to-human transmission. What Is Hantavirus?
According to WHO, hantaviruses are a group of rodent-borne viruses. These are serious and infect humans severely. They can get the infection via rodent’s urine, saliva, or droppings. The strain in the cruise ship outbreak is believed to be the Andes virus, a hantavirus found in South America.The infection can lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Symptoms may begin between one and eight weeks after exposure and can include:FeverMuscle achesHeadacheNausea and abdominal discomfortCough and breathing difficulty in severe casesAs of now, there is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus.What it means for cruise travellers Cruise ships remain highly sensitive environments for infectious disease monitoring because passengers and crew live in close quarters for longer periods. Ships also move to several places across ports, making contact tracing significant. What Indian Travellers Need To Know
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For Indian travellers, especially those planning expedition cruises or travel to remote wilderness regions in South America, experts advise caution but not panic. Travellers should,Avoid rodent-infested spacesUse caution while camping Avoid staying in poorly ventilated cabins or lodges, which are breeding grounds for rodentsAvoid sweeping dry rodent droppings; as per WHO damp cleaning method in betterPractice good hygieneThe Union Health Ministry has said India remains vigilant and high-level review meetings are being held to assess preparedness and response measures.For travellers, the current risk remains low according to WHO, but awareness is essential during international travel.
