Cruise Ship Suspected of Hantavirus Outbreak Denied Port Entry in Cape Verde, Passengers Prohibited from Disembarking
Following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that caused three deaths, the Atlantic island nation of Cape Verde refused port entry and prohibited passengers from disembarking to ensure the health and safety of its residents.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Praia 4th, comprehensive foreign news report) A Dutch-flagged cruise ship, recently suspected of a hantavirus outbreak that caused 3 deaths, is currently anchored off the coast of the Atlantic island nation of the Republic of Cape Verde. The country has refused the cruise ship port entry and prohibited passengers from disembarking to ensure the health and safety of its residents.
Agence France-Presse reported that even though the World Health Organization (WHO) European office stated that the risk to the general public remains low, the Republic of Cape Verde still prohibited passengers from the cruise ship from landing locally.
Maria da Luz Lima, Director of the National Public Health Institute (INSP) of Cape Verde, stated in an interview with the state-run radio station RTC last night that the involved cruise ship was “not allowed to berth in the port of the capital, Praia.”
Lima pointed out that, “within our country, (the cruise ship) passengers are not allowed to disembark, and this measure is precisely to protect the people of Cape Verde,” emphasizing that “we will not allow any contact between passengers and our citizens.”
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated that WHO is urgently taking action to respond to the outbreak and cooperating with relevant countries, including supporting medical care, evacuation, investigation, and public health risk assessment work.
Hantavirus
Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family. Currently, based on genetic sequencing or serological testing, hantaviruses can be classified into more than 20 different genotypes, distributed in different geographical regions, each with its unique rodent host.
Transmission route
Transmitted through respiratory inhalation of aerosols from rodent secretions. The virus is present in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected, asymptomatic rodents, and high concentrations of the virus can be found in their lungs. Humans become infected once they inhale or come into contact with air particles or contaminants contaminated with the virus, or are bitten by a virus-carrying rodent.
Symptoms
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS): Fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure are the three major clinical manifestations. Fever usually appears suddenly and lasts 3 to 8 days, accompanied by conjunctival congestion, weakness, back pain, headache, abdominal pain, anorexia, and vomiting. Bleeding symptoms appear on days 3 to 6 and may progress to acute renal failure, lasting several weeks.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS): Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and severe muscle pain, accompanied by headache and stomach discomfort. Cough and shortness of breath usually appear 4 to 10 days after the onset of illness. Once cardiac and pulmonary discomfort occurs, respiratory failure and shock may quickly follow.
Prevention methods
Strengthen rodent control. Environmental cleaning should be strengthened in residential areas and various public places, including restaurants, hotels, snack stalls, markets, and food factories, to expel rodents from buildings and take measures to prevent rodents. Once signs of rodents are found, rodent extermination actions should be initiated immediately.
Data source: CDC
Initially, the disease presents with flu-like symptoms, which can then lead to heart and lung failure. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40% of cases result in patient death. (Compiled by: Hong Qiyuan) 1150504
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(Central News Agency, Praia 4th, comprehensive foreign news report) A Dutch-flagged cruise ship, recently suspected of a hantavirus outbreak that caused 3 deaths, is currently anchored off the coast of the Atlantic island nation of the Republic of Cape Verde. The country has refused the cruise ship port entry and prohibited passengers from disembarking to ensure the health and safety of its residents.
Agence France-Presse reported that even though the World Health Organization (WHO) European office stated that the risk to the general public remains low, the Republic of Cape Verde still prohibited passengers from the cruise ship from landing locally.
Maria da Luz Lima, Director of the National Public Health Institute (INSP) of Cape Verde, stated in an interview with the state-run radio station RTC last night that the involved cruise ship was “not allowed to berth in the port of the capital, Praia.”
Lima pointed out that, “within our country, (the cruise ship) passengers are not allowed to disembark, and this measure is precisely to protect the people of Cape Verde,” emphasizing that “we will not allow any contact between passengers and our citizens.”
Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated that WHO is urgently taking action to respond to the outbreak and cooperating with relevant countries, including supporting medical care, evacuation, investigation, and public health risk assessment work.
Hantavirus
Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family. Currently, based on genetic sequencing or serological testing, hantaviruses can be classified into more than 20 different genotypes, distributed in different geographical regions, each with its unique rodent host.
Transmission route
Transmitted through respiratory inhalation of aerosols from rodent secretions. The virus is present in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected, asymptomatic rodents, and high concentrations of the virus can be found in their lungs. Humans become infected once they inhale or come into contact with air particles or contaminants contaminated with the virus, or are bitten by a virus-carrying rodent.
Symptoms
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS): Fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure are the three major clinical manifestations. Fever usually appears suddenly and lasts 3 to 8 days, accompanied by conjunctival congestion, weakness, back pain, headache, abdominal pain, anorexia, and vomiting. Bleeding symptoms appear on days 3 to 6 and may progress to acute renal failure, lasting several weeks.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS): Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and severe muscle pain, accompanied by headache and stomach discomfort. Cough and shortness of breath usually appear 4 to 10 days after the onset of illness. Once cardiac and pulmonary discomfort occurs, respiratory failure and shock may quickly follow.
Prevention methods
Strengthen rodent control. Environmental cleaning should be strengthened in residential areas and various public places, including restaurants, hotels, snack stalls, markets, and food factories, to expel rodents from buildings and take measures to prevent rodents. Once signs of rodents are found, rodent extermination actions should be initiated immediately.
Data source: CDC
Initially, the disease presents with flu-like symptoms, which can then lead to heart and lung failure. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40% of cases result in patient death. (Compiled by: Hong Qiyuan) 1150504
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.