The World Health Organization says seven passengers aboard the cruise ship Hondius have contracted hantavirus, while three people have died and more suspected cases remain under investigation.
Countries around the world are now monitoring and quarantining evacuated passengers after the first known hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. German authorities say four passengers are being monitored at a clinic in Frankfurt before being transferred to quarantine facilities in their home states.
DW speaks with infectious disease specialist Dr. Torsten Feldt of University Hospital Düsseldorf about:
– Why countries are using quarantine-style measures despite WHO assurances that public risk is low
– How human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain may work
– Why some patients are being treated in Ebola-style bio-containment units
– Whether authorities fully understand the outbreak
– And what would make epidemiologists fear the situation is becoming more serious
The discussion also examines whether memories of COVID are shaping public perceptions of the outbreak and the global response.
Chapters:
00:00 Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak explained
01:15 Interview with Torsten Feldt, infectious desease consultant
01:37 Why is hantavirus low risk – for now?
02:14 How human to human transmission works
03:18 Why Ebola-style units are being used in this incident
04:45 Why quarantine differs from country to country
05:51 Can this outbreak be compared to COVID?
07:04 When would experts start worrying?
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