A suspected hantavirus case on Tristan da Cunha fuels outbreak fears after five confirmed cases resulted in three deaths.
As public health authorities ramp up contact tracing in the wake of the hantavirus outbreak, another suspected case has been reported on Tristan da Cunha.
Considered 'the world's most remote inhabited island,' it's located halfway between the outermost edges of Africa and South America, somewhere on the South Atlantic Ocean.
A confirmed passenger of the MV Hondius, the suspected case is a British national who disembarked from the cruise ship in April, during a port stop on the island. None of the British citizens on the ship are exhibiting hantavirus infection symptoms, theUK Health Security Agencyreported.
This update has only stoked concerns of a potential international outbreak, with health officials now racing to monitor and contain reported cases. Five hantavirus infections have been confirmed as of Thursday, and three people have died.
The World Health Organisation said three more individuals are being closely monitored. Reports from other countries were noted, but are currently not considered hantavirus cases.
The WHO has maintained that the risk of a broader outbreak among the general public remains low as of Tuesday. The majority of the passengers remain aboard the cruise ship, which is expected to dock at Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday.
Authorities believe the outbreak originated from a Dutch couple who were infected during a wildlife expedition at one of the port stops.
#Hantaviruscluster linked to cruise ship travel:Since 1 April when the boat set sail, of the 147 passengers and crew, 7 people have become ill, among whom 3 have died, 1 is critically ill and 3 are reporting mild symptoms.Based on the current information, including how…pic.twitter.com/KDKwmrNeBt
Residents of multiple countries, including at least five from the US, are under observation.No hantavirus case has been identified or confirmed in the US at the moment.
Source: International Business Times UK
