The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday called on countries to continue monitoring passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship after another hantavirus case was detected, raising the total to 12 infections.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a Geneva press briefing that a Dutch crew member had tested positive and was now in isolation. He urged all nations to track passengers who had been on board and "remain vigilant throughout the remaining quarantine period."
Three people have died from the virus so far. However, Tedros stressed no fatalities have been recorded since May 2, when the outbreak was first reported to the WHO.
"More than 600 contacts are still being monitored in 30 countries, and a small number of high-risk contacts are still being located," he added.
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) confirmed the patient had been hospitalized. "Andes virus was detected in a person under quarantine in the Netherlands. The patient was admitted to hospital as a precaution and is in isolation," RIVM said.
RIVM emphasized the risk of further spread in the Netherlands is very low. According to the agency, all evacuees from the Dutch-flagged ship returning home are tested weekly, and two separate laboratories confirmed the positive result. The infected person had previously been self-isolating at home.
The MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, then sailed past Cape Verde and arrived at Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands. The WHO is investigating the source of infection aboard the vessel but believes the initial case may have resulted from contact with rodents during a bird-watching excursion.
While hantavirus is typically transmitted by rodents, the Andes strain is the only one known to spread from human to human.
