UK Health agency issues update on British passengers aboard hantavirus-hit cruise

It also revealed if there's a risk to the general public

The MV Hondius cruise ship is where an outbreak of hantavirus was confirmed in April.

From the ship, three people including one British national were evacuated in order to receive medical care in the Netherlands, as they were suspected of hantavirus infection.

As they’re being treatment in co-ordination between the Cape Verde, UK and Dutch governments, UKHSA has said it is in close contact with the medical teams.

As per UKHSA, while they are being closely monitored, none of the British citizens onboard are currently reporting any symptoms, as the FCDO is making arrangements for their return to the UK.

UK’s health agency also said that it is aware of two people who have returned to the UK independently having been on board the MV Hondius, but neither of these individuals is currently reporting symptoms, while they have been advised to self-isolate.

What is hantavirus and how is it treated?

The rodent-borne virus known as hantavirus can either mostly affect the lungs or kidneys, and there are no specific drugs to treat ⁠it.

Treatment for hantavirus focuses on supportive care, while in severe cases, it includes putting patients on ventilators.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus is spread mainly by rodents and are not from person-to-person.

People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva.

It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare, according to CDC.

Where is hantavirus most common?

While around 150,000 cases of the disease are reported each year worldwide, only "very few cases of hantavirus infection have been confirmed in the United Kingdom" as per the government website.

Cases tend to be most concentrated in China, Russia, Scandinavia and the US.

What are the symptoms?

Hantavirus can cause two serious infections in humans:

• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)
• Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)

As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms for HPS are:

Early symptoms:

• fatigue
• fever
• muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders

About half of all HPS patients also experience:

• headaches
• dizziness
• chills
• abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath. Patients might experience tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid.

Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.

As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms for HFRS are:

• intense headaches
• back and abdominal pain
• fever/chills
• nausea
• blurred vision

People may have flushing of the face, inflammation or redness of the eyes, or a rash. Later symptoms can include:

• low blood pressure
• lack of blood flow (acute shock)
• internal bleeding (vascular leakage)
• acute kidney failure, which can cause severe fluid overload

The survival rate of HFRS can vary depending on the virus causing the infection.

Less than 1% die from the Saaremaa, and Puumala viruses which are found in Scandinavia and western Europe, while the Hantaan (Asia) and Dobrava (Balkans) have a 5-15% fatality rate.

The Seoul virus is worldwide and also has a less than 1% fatality rate.

Treatment

There is currently no specific treatment for a hantavirus infection with the best course of care being to support the patient with rest, hydration and treatment for other symptoms as per the CDC.

This can be support for breathing difficulties such as intubation, a procedure where a tube is placed in the lungs from the mouth.

Some patients with HFRS may need dialysis to treat kidney disruption.