Hantavirus outbreak timeline highlights key moments in deadly cruise crisis
April 28
A German woman became ill on board the MV Hondius as the ship headed toward Cape Verde off Africa’s west coast.
May 2
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The German woman died on board nearly a month after the first passenger became ill, marking the third fatality.
The British man being treated in South Africa tested positive for hantavirus.
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May 3
The World Health Organization announced it is investigating a suspected hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship, which had entered waters off Cape Verde.
May 4
In light of the British man’s positive result, South African health officials conducted a posthumous test and confirmed that the Dutch woman who collapsed at an airport and later died was also infected with hantavirus.
The World Health Organization officially classified the situation as an outbreak.
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May 5
Authorities in Cape Verde refused the ship’s requests to evacuate additional sick individuals or allow passengers and crew to disembark, creating a standoff. The country sent health workers to provide assistance on board, but no one was allowed off. Two crew members, including the ship’s doctor, became seriously ill, and another was placed under monitoring.
May 6
The three individuals — two of whom tested positive for hantavirus – were evacuated from the ship and flown to specialized hospitals in Europe. The vessel headed for Spain’s Canary Islands after authorities agreed to receive it.
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Officials in Switzerland later reported another confirmed hantavirus case in a man who had disembarked earlier in St. Helena, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to five.
Health authorities in South Africa and Switzerland identified the circulating strain as the Andes virus, the only hantavirus believed to spread from person to person, which is found in South America.
May 7
Health authorities in Switzerland, Britain, the Netherlands, France, Singapore, South Africa and other countries have isolated former passengers who have already left the ship and are tracing those who may have been in contact with them.
On May 8, authorities on Tristan da Cunha said a resident who may have been in contact with cruise passengers has been hospitalized with symptoms. (iStock)
May 8
The ship approached Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, where authorities are organizing an evacuation and repatriation effort involving several countries. Spanish officials say passengers will be screened on board before being quarantined or flown home.
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Authorities on Tristan da Cunha said a resident who may have been in contact with cruise passengers has been hospitalized with symptoms.
Additionally, two New Jersey residents who were not on board the ship are being monitored after possible exposure during air travel abroad, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
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Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/hantavirus-outbreak-timeline-highlights-key-moments-deadly-cruise-crisis