Hantavirus Probe Traces Dutch Couple Route Before Cruise Outbreak

According to a report from DW, Argentina’s Health Ministry said the Dutch couple who first died in the outbreak had traveled through Chile and Uruguay before boarding the MV Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the couple had joined a bird-watching trip before boarding the cruise ship.

“Prior to boarding the ship, the first two cases had traveled to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat that's known to carry hantavirus was present,” Tedros said, quoted from DW.

He added that the WHO was still tracing the couple’s movements.

“We are trying to track the movement of the couple,” he said.

According to Argentine authorities, the couple arrived in Argentina on Nov. 27, later traveled to Chile and Uruguay, and returned to Argentina on March 27 before joining the cruise.

The husband died aboard the ship on April 11 and his body was disembarked in Saint Helena. His wife, who had fallen ill, also left the vessel in Saint Helena and was later evacuated to a hospital in Johannesburg, where she died.

Argentina’s Health Ministry said it was sending experts to Ushuaia to capture and test rodents for the virus “in areas linked to the route” taken by the tourists. However, the ministry noted that the Andes strain of hantavirus has not been detected in Tierra del Fuego province, where Ushuaia is located, since 1996.

Tedros also expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the cruise operator, as well as “the passengers and crew who are going through a very difficult and frightening situation.”

He added that he had spoken with the ship’s captain, who said morale on board had improved since the vessel resumed sailing.

Read: Switzerland Confirms Hantavirus Case Linked to Cruise Ship

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