Here are some key points:
• Through PCR testing, the WHO confirmed that six of the cases are associated with the Andes virus, a category of hantavirus.
• The vessel had 147 passengers and crew on board when the outbreak was reported on May 2, while 34 passengers had already disembarked.
• Four individuals are currently hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, although a suspected case sent to Germany returned a negative result.
• In a separate announcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the U.S. is actively monitoring the situation regarding American travelers on the cruise ship.
• The CDC plans to repatriate American passengers on a government medical flight to Omaha, Nebraska.
• According to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions, there are 17 U.S. citizens currently on the ship.
• The cruise departed from Cabo Verde on May 6 and is en route to Spain’s Canary Islands, where passengers are set to disembark.
• The WHO indicated that although the risk to the global population is considered low, the risk for passengers and crew aboard the ship is moderate.
• The agency noted that the first case might have been contracted prior to boarding, potentially during travel in Argentina and Chile, with subsequent transmission likely occurring on the ship.
