ZURICH : The patient, who travelled aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, reportedly presented himself at a hospital in Zurich after receiving an email from the ship’s operator informing passengers about a health incident onboard. He is currently receiving medical care and has been placed in isolation. Swiss authorities said there is “no danger to the public” at present.

According to the Swiss government, the man returned from South America at the end of April and sought treatment at University Hospital Zurich after developing symptoms. His wife, who travelled with him, has not shown symptoms but is also isolating as a precautionary measure. Authorities are investigating whether the man came into contact with others while ill.

The World Health Organization confirmed that the virus involved in the outbreak has been identified as Andes hantavirus. Laboratory confirmation was carried out by South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Geneva University Hospitals in Switzerland, with support from institutions in Senegal and Argentina.

As of May 6, a total of eight cases linked to the outbreak have been identified, three of which have been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections.

WHO said it is working closely with relevant countries under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework to support international contact tracing and ensure that passengers, crew members and contacts are monitored to prevent further spread.

Meanwhile, evacuation efforts are ongoing in Cape Verde, where two sick crew members and another individual are being removed from the vessel. WHO’s representative in Cape Verde, Ann Lindstrand, said the three individuals are stable, with one reportedly asymptomatic.

The cruise ship’s Dutch operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that two seriously ill crew members — one British and one Dutch — along with a passenger, would be flown to the Netherlands after evacuation procedures are completed.

Following the evacuation, the ship is expected to continue towards the Canary Islands, with discussions ongoing with authorities there. However, Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands, has opposed the Spanish government’s decision to allow the vessel to dock, saying the region had not been given sufficient information regarding the outbreak.

Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried mainly by rodents and is commonly transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Though rare, it can also spread through bites or scratches.

The virus can lead to severe illnesses including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which affects the lungs and has a mortality rate of approximately 38% once respiratory symptoms develop, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another form, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), primarily affects the kidneys and can lead to internal bleeding and acute kidney failure.

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