Cruise ship with “Han-ta virus” outbreak caused 3 deaths! A list of passengers returning home reportedly includes Taiwanese people? Taiwan CDC clarifies: most likely a false report

A Hantha virus outbreak has broken out on a Dutch cruise ship Hondius, resulting in 8 cumulative cases and 3 deaths, and an Andes virus strain was found that can be transmitted between humans, drawing international attention. Rumors said Taiwanese passengers on board have returned to Taiwan; on the 7th, Chen Chien-jen, head of Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC), said the likelihood of misinformation is higher, and the CDC is continuing to verify with the WHO and the cruise company. WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also stressed that this outbreak is not comparable to the early days of COVID-19, and the global risk remains low.

Cruise Hantha virus outbreak overview: 8 infected, 3 dead

The Dutch expedition cruise ship “Hondius” has recently seen a cluster outbreak of Hantha virus. On the 6th, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the infectious agent is a rare Andes virus strain (Andes virus). So far, there are 8 suspected or confirmed cases in total, with 3 deaths; additionally, 1 patient is receiving treatment in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and 1 is hospitalized in Switzerland for observation.

The first death was a 70-year-old Dutch man. He developed symptoms as early as early April and died in mid-April. His wife then also died after contracting the infection in South Africa. Among these, the Andes virus is a Hantha virus type that is among the few with human-to-human transmission capability, requiring prolonged close contact or transmission via saliva droplets—for example, sharing meals or having prolonged close-range conversations—rather than infection from brief contact alone.

What is worrying is that the Hantha virus incubation period can last as long as 1 to 6 weeks or even longer, making it harder to detect.

Passengers returning home after disembarking: Taiwanese names found? CDC: high likelihood of rumor

At the end of April, when the Hondius docked at the British overseas territory of Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, a total of 23 passengers disembarked and returned to places including Australia, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. One Swiss passenger was later confirmed to have been infected. According to a report citing remarks from a Spanish passenger on the ship, this group of disembarking passengers was not told at the time that they might have been exposed to viral risk. The WHO said that after the fact, passengers were informed by the ship about the outbreak information and were asked to report immediately if any symptoms appeared.

Regarding the rumor that “Taiwanese passengers have already returned to Taiwan,” CDC Director Chen Chien-jen said on the 7th that, based on information gathered through multiple channels and the passenger nationality list published by the cruise company, the CDC’s preliminary assessment indicates the likelihood of misinformation is higher. It has already contacted the WHO through the International Health Regulations (IHR) contact point to verify with the WHO and the cruise company, and will explain to the public after receiving responses.

According to the list currently held by the CDC, there were 147 people on board in total (86 passengers, 61 crew), coming from 23 countries including Argentina, Australia, Germany, the UK, and the US, and there is no Taiwan.

CDC task force: Taiwan’s risk assessment is relatively low; avoid contact with South American rodents

CDC spokesperson Hsu Yu-hui said that because this outbreak is limited to a single international cruise and a small number of exported cases after disembarking, and because there is no animal host for the Andes virus, “long-tailed rice rat,” within Taiwan, the assessment suggests limited risk of direct importation into Taiwan. The overall risk is low, and there is currently no necessity to raise the travel health alert level. The CDC has formed a task force and will continue to adjust prevention and control measures in accordance with WHO guidance and international recommendations.

It is understood that all Hantha virus cases in Taiwan over the years, whether local or imported from abroad, have been “Seoul virus” strains, which have relatively lower severity and case-fatality rates, and no Andes virus has been detected. The CDC reminds that people traveling to South America should avoid contact with rodents to reduce infection risk.

WHO Secretary-General: no similar concerns to COVID-19; no need to convene emergency committee

On the other hand, in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) on the 6th, WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus downplayed the situation, saying that this Hantha virus outbreak has “no similarities” with the early period of the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic; the current risk to other parts of the world remains low, and the WHO also believes there is no need to convene an emergency committee meeting.

Tedros said that the WHO has held multiple coordination meetings, consolidating response measures from various partner organizations and health authorities in different countries, and will continue to closely monitor the outbreak’s developments.

This article 3 deaths caused by cruise Hantha virus! Taiwanese among returning passengers’ list? CDC clarifies: likely misinformation; first appeared on Lianxin ABMedia.