Geneva, 12 May (H.S.): The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that patients infected in the deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship are most contagious during the early stage, when symptoms first begin to appear. For this reason, the WHO has recommended quarantine for people who came into contact with the infected individuals.

So far, three people have died from the rare viral infection that spread aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. Global concern has grown over the possible spread of the infection after passengers evacuated from the vessel returned to their respective countries.

Dr. Olivier Le Polain, head of the WHO’s Department of Epidemiology and Analysis, said the risk of transmission is highest at the beginning of the illness. He noted that the initial symptoms may be mild, such as fatigue or a slight fever, but the condition can later become severe. Therefore, he said, it is essential to isolate possible contacts without waiting for symptoms to develop.

The WHO has recommended a six-week quarantine for about 150 people on board the ship. This period corresponds to the maximum incubation period of the Andes virus, which is considered to be around 42 days. The Andes virus is a strain of hantavirus that can spread between humans.

Several countries have implemented strict quarantine measures in line with WHO advice. Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Greece have decided to monitor exposed individuals for up to 45 days, while Australia and France have set minimum observation periods of three weeks and two weeks respectively.

The United States, however, has not taken a clear decision on mandatory quarantine for passengers who returned home. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described that approach as risky.

According to Dr. Polain, the closed environment of the cruise ship proved ideal for transmission, as a large number of people were living together in a confined space. As a result, the risk of spread was considered much higher than under ordinary conditions.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar