WHO shares seven ways to ‘prevent’ hantavirus as cruise quarantine begins

Experts from the World Health Organisation has shared some ‘effective measures’ to prevent the spread of the virus.

Over the last few weeks concern has grown following the news of a disease outbreak on a luxury cruise ship that has resulted in multiple confirmed cases and deaths. Since the hantavirus was discovered on the MV Hondius, multiple passengers are now quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral to closely monitor and test the disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently reassured Brits the public health risk is “low”, however it has said more cases could be possible. Hantavirus is usually transmitted only through infected rodents, however this specific strain on the ship has had human to human transmission previously reported.

In the past, getting the disease from another human would require close and prolonged contact, with people living in the same house and intimate partners being the most likely to be affected during the earliest phases of the illness, reports the Mirror.

Hantavirus symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, breathing difficulties can develop and require hospital treatment.

In a new update, WHO has shared several “effective measures” to prevent the hantavirus. However, the most important one is to avoid contact with infected people and rodents. According to the experts, other methods to consider include:

• keeping homes and workplaces clean
• sealing openings that allow rodents to enter buildings
• storing food securely
• using safe cleaning practices in areas contaminated by rodents
• avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings
• dampening of contaminated areas before cleaning
• strengthening hand hygiene practices

In most cases, the virus is said to be spread to humans when they come into contact with contaminated urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents.

According to WHO, this exposure can happen when cleaning poorly ventilated spaces, sleeping in rodent-infested dwelling or occupations in forestry and farming.

In the latest WHO update, director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low. It’s possible that more cases may be reported.”

Additionally, the UKHSA has reassured strict infection control measures are in place for the passengers who are completing their isolation. Along with regular testing and care by the NHS and UKHSA, passengers could be quarantined for up to 45 days.

A total of three people have died due to the outbreak, with 22 passengers currently completing their isolation in Wirral – 20 British nationals, one German national who stays in the UK and one Japanese passenger at the request of the Japanese government.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, said: “Throughout this incident, we have worked closely with government departments including FCDO, DHSC, MHCLG and MOD alongside international partners to support the safe repatriation of British passengers.

“The safety and wellbeing of those passengers remains our priority. The risk remains very low for members of the general public.”

Long term isolation is key as hantavirus symptoms can take weeks to appear after the first exposure, with the symptoms being dismissed as the flu. However, as the virus develops, it can progress to cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, bleeding disorders or kidney failure. This is dependent on the strain the person has fallen ill with.

Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said: “I want to thank all those who have worked to bring our British nationals home and the NHS workers now caring for them at Arrowe Park Hospital – their dedication and professionalism show our NHS at its very best.

“None of the passengers are symptomatic but we will monitor them closely over the next 72 hours at the hospital, as part of a precautionary isolation period. With no cases or symptoms among them and our stringent monitoring and isolation measures, the risk to the public remains extremely low.”