Virus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

[kpc]

Suspected outbreak of rare hantavirus on cruise ship kills three people

At least three others who were on the polar expedition ship are ill, with a British tourist in intensive care in a South African hospital.

www.smh.com.au

The Hondius was one of the ships I was considering for my recent trip to Antarctica but chose another in the end. On my ship, there was a gastro and resp viral outbreak so I wore a mask most of the time, and avoided crowded areas if possible eg the lounge where everyone congregated for afternoon and after dinner drinks and where we had our daily briefings. Miraculously we avoided any illness but even the crew got sick!

Added another link to story if you can't read above link:

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/three-dead-other-in-intensive-care-after-virus-outbreak-on-cruise-ship/news-story/dba2eca5e2965c11488c64102207f565

 

[Pushka]

Suspected outbreak of rare hantavirus on cruise ship kills three people

At least three others who were on the polar expedition ship are ill, with a British tourist in intensive care in a South African hospital.

www.smh.com.au

The Hondius was one of the ships I was considering for my recent trip to Antarctica but chose another in the end. On my ship, there was a gastro and resp viral outbreak so I wore a mask most of the time, and avoided crowded areas if possible eg the lounge where everyone congregated for afternoon and after dinner drinks and where we had our daily briefings. Miraculously we avoided any illness but even the crew got sick!

We were on a ship (Celebrity) where we were told had a Noro outbreak and the restirictioms made the cruise rather difficult. Ever been in the buffet where no self serve was allowed and queues would form behind people who only wanted a specific piece or pieces of fruit etc or worse, couldn't choose which piece they wanted. No salt and pepper shakers. Nor menus. Turned out our cruise folk didn't actually have it, they were protecting crew in prep for the next cruise which was a highly exclusive chartered cruise.

This outbreak sounds dreadful but it also doesn't seem like it's contagious from human to human. So a lot of rats?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And people still want to go on cruises?

 

[jrfsp]

Authorities are now tracing everyone on the flight from JNB to st Helena.
Could be nasty if it has transmitted onto St Helena - couldn’t get much more remote.

 

[Franky]

And people still want to go on cruises?

Yep - we are currently on a cruise and are in Alaska at the moment, heading back to Vancouver on Saturday to fly home…..

 

[AuSammy]

The media is a bit all over the place, maybe they are reporting facts, maybe not.

From what I read so far seems only one actually diagnosed with the illness, the others a presumption or “likely”.

“Authorities” say the person who was diagnosed “could” have had it before embarking.

Also this virus “not normally passed from one human to another” but “could be”.

My presumption is its going to be a while before we find out what has actually happened and what is the current situation.

 

[kpc]

Human to Human spread according to WHO.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/humantohuman-transmission-suspected-on-board-hantavirus-cruise-ship-who/news-story/b04d24049e8f1e9ce41464dae6c1d1de

 

[Pushka]

Human to Human spread according to WHO.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/humantohuman-transmission-suspected-on-board-hantavirus-cruise-ship-who/news-story/b04d24049e8f1e9ce41464dae6c1d1de

Maybe there are others with similar symptoms but possibly not this illness so assumed? Let's hope so.

 

[AuSammy]

Human to Human spread according to WHO.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/humantohuman-transmission-suspected-on-board-hantavirus-cruise-ship-who/news-story/b04d24049e8f1e9ce41464dae6c1d1de

“suspected “, “may” have occurred, “can’t be ruled out”.

Only one person has been tested.

Presumption may be correct, but unproven at this stage.

 

[RooFlyer]

And people still want to go on cruises?

Cruise ship: Someone catches a virus on board. Detected, doctor attends and quarantine in cabin, reported to authorities.

Aircraft: Someone catches a virus on board, or in lounge (kids at the buffet, anyone?). Not detected, no immediate doctor, pax disembarks, keeps spreading the virus. Not reported.

 

[Pushka]

Cruise ship: Someone catches a virus on board. Detected, doctor attends and quarantine in cabin, reported to authorities.

Aircraft: Someone catches a virus on board, or in lounge (kids at the buffet, anyone?). Not detected, no immediate doctor, pax disembarks, keeps spreading the virus. Not reported.

Or they then get on a cruise ship after the flight and this is what happens. That happened with Princess Diamond in Japan. Infected traveller from Hong Kong boarded and was positive.

 

[cove]

We are heading to the Great Lakes for a Viking cruise. Now @Cruiser Elite we are in TPR getting set for London.

 

[kpc]

The news is currently reporting the index case of hentavirus (who died) on the MV Hondius probably caught it from bird watching near a landfill infested with rats in Ushuaia, Argentina....we were in Ushuaia around that time!! We left Ushuaia about 7 weeks ago. The incubation period of hentavirus is up to 8 weeks!!

 

[RooFlyer]

The news is currently reporting the index case of hentavirus (who died) on the MV Hondius probably caught it from bird watching near a landfill infested with rats in Ushuaia, Argentina....we were in Ushuaia around that time!! We left Ushuaia about 7 weeks ago. The incubation period of hentavirus is up to 8 weeks!!

ABC radio in Hobart interviewed a virus 'expert' a few days ago and he said that he understood that the virus was probably picked up before they left Argentina, as its one of the countries outside Asia where its prevalent. Interviewer desperately trying to make it a cruise ship story, expert maintaining it 'just one of those virus-spread stories, irrespective of venue.

Trust you'll remain in good health, @kpc.

 

[Myrna]

Trust you'll remain in good health, @kpc.

- we are keeping a good distance from our neighbours!

 

[kpc]

Trust you'll remain in good health, @kpc.

Thanks. In 6 days' time we will be outside the 8 weeks!

In reality, if the virus was picked up in Ushuaia, there will be cases all over the world by now as there were thousands, literally thousands, of tourists in Ushuaia around that time!

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. In 6 days' time we will be outside the 8 weeks!

In reality, if the virus was picked up in Ushuaia, there will be cases all over the world by now as there were thousands, literally thousands, of tourists in Ushuaia around that time!

Yeah, but hopefully they weren't all bird-watching in a rat infested garbage dump.

 

[SCM]

This is being way overblown in the media, as usual. This is an extremely common virus, everyone in rural/farming communities is exposed to it all the time, and for vast majority of people they don't even notice being infected.

It's unfortunate, but it's still a nothing-burger.

 

[Quickstatus]

And people still want to go on cruises?

Most outbreaks are carried on board by infected people - whether passengers or crew and then spread through the ship.

A lot of these infected also fly /taxi to their cruise.....

The gastro outbreak on the QF28 SCL-SYD flight in 2013 didn't just happen on the flight. It was already ruminating prior to check in.

There is an incubation period of some days

My understanding is that cruise ships are generally cleaner than airline cabins and for that matter even Jimmy and his taxis for grown ups. . So it is possible to pick up some Lurgy from Jimmys taxis and then bring it on board a cruise ship

Maybe someone who does cruises can expound on this.

 

[Quickstatus]

everyone in rural/farming communities is exposed to it all the time

I don't think there has ever been a human Hanta infection in Australia