ADDIS ABABA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it is closely monitoring reports of a new cluster of hantavirus infections as countries in Africa and beyond initiated a coordinated international response.
The African Union's specialized healthcare agency, in a statement issued late Tuesday, said it is on high alert, monitoring reports of a cluster of hantavirus infections identified among individuals traveling on an international cruise ship that departed Argentina on March 20 for the Canary Islands via Cabo Verde.
On Saturday, a cluster of severe respiratory illness was reported among passengers aboard the vessel, carrying 147 individuals. As of Monday, seven cases of hantavirus infection had been identified, including two confirmed cases. Among these, three fatalities have been recorded, while one patient remains in critical condition under medical care in South Africa, and three individuals are experiencing mild symptoms, according to data from the Africa CDC.
The incident led authorities from Cabo Verde, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and Britain to initiate a coordinated international response, including case investigation, isolation and clinical management, medical evacuation and laboratory testing, it was noted.
Hantaviruses are carried by rodents and can cause severe disease in humans. Thousands of infections are estimated to occur each year. People usually get infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, their droppings, or their saliva.
Although hantaviruses are not typically associated with sustained human-to-human transmission, the Africa CDC stressed that the clustering of cases among travelers in a confined environment "warrants heightened vigilance and further investigation to determine the source and mode of exposure."
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said hantavirus victims on the ship Hundius in the Atlantic Ocean may have been infected prior to joining the cruise, and human-to-human transmission on board cannot be ruled out.
"The Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with affected countries to provide support as needed," the agency said.
It further urged African countries to strengthen port health services, reinforce infection prevention and control measures, and ensure timely reporting of suspected cases.
Noting that the outbreak currently appears confined to the cruise ship, with no evidence of transmission within African countries, it said the risk to the general public remains low.
The agency further urged travelers to practice good hygiene, avoid contact with rodents or potentially contaminated environments, and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches or respiratory difficulty following travel. ■