Eight people infected by the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius have tested positive for the Andes virus, the only type transmitted between humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
“Eight cases were laboratory confirmed of Andes virus (ANDV) infection, two are probable and one case remains inconclusive and subject to further testing,” the UN health agency said in its latest update on the outbreak.
Three people from the ship have died since it left Argentina on April 1 for a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Two of the victims had confirmed Andes virus infections, and the third is listed as a “probable” case, according to the WHO.
Hantavirus is usually spread by the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents.
There are no vaccines or specific treatments for the rare disease.
All known cases in the current outbreak were people aboard the cruise ship.
The case listed as inconclusive is an American passenger repatriated to the United States who is “currently asymptomatic” and undergoing further testing after one positive and one negative, the WHO said.
It kept its assessment of the public health risk from the outbreak at “moderate” for those on the ship and “low” for the rest of the world.
The origin of the explosion is still unknown.
The WHO says the original infection occurred before the cruise because the first victim, a 70-year-old Dutchman, began showing symptoms on April 6, while the incubation period for the virus is one to six weeks.
