An Australian traveller has reportedly returned home after being on-board a cruise ship exposed to hantavirus.
Spanish newspaper El Pais reported while most passengers remained on-board the cruise ship MV Hondius under strict conditions, 23 people left the ship on April 21 and returned home, including one Australian.
“The Australian went back to Australia, the one from Taiwan to Taiwan, the Americans to all corners of North America. The Englishman to England, the Dutch to their homes… I don’t remember the rest, but no Spaniards,” a passenger told El Pais.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed a deadly outbreak of hantavirus had been linked to the cruise ship.
Eight cases had been reported, including three deaths. Five of the cases have been confirmed as hantavirus.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom said it was possible that more cases would be reported.
“While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low,” he said.
Dr Adhanom said the disease spread from the Andes virus, and was the only known species to transmit between humans in close and prolonged contact.
The viruses are carried by rodents and cause severe disease in humans, who are infected by coming into contact with rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva.
WHO is working with multiple countries under the International Health Regulations in response to the public health event.
Dr Adhanom said their priorities were to ensure affected patients received care and the remaining passengers on the ship were kept safe to prevent any further spread of the virus.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said Australian consular officials were travelling to Tenerife to provide consular assistance to Australians aboard the MV Hondius.
“DFAT is not aware of any Australians having contracted the virus,” a spokesman said.
“Owing to privacy obligations we are unable to comment further.”
Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed the cruise ship left waters off Cape Verde on the African coast and was headed towards the Canary Islands.
Its website stated 30 people disembarked the vessel at St Helena on April 24, but two of the nationalities were unknown.
No Australians were listed.
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
