NEW DELHI, MAY 10 (AGENCIES): India has heightened surveillance for Hantavirus following an outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which has reported eight probable cases and three deaths, according to information shared through the World Health Organization (WHO) under the International Health Regulations framework.
Officials said five of the infections have been laboratory confirmed, while two Indian crew members are among those onboard the vessel, which recently arrived at Spain’s Canary Islands. Around 150 passengers are expected to be evacuated and flown home after spending weeks at sea.
Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation after confirmation of the Andes virus strain, the only known hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission. Experts, however, said there is no immediate concern in India as no cases have been detected in the country so far, though caution and preparedness are being emphasised. Pulmonary and critical care specialist Dr GC Khilnani said mortality in severe cardiopulmonary hantavirus disease can reach 30-50 per cent, but clarified that the infection is not highly contagious like Covid-19.
Dr N K Ganguly of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said India’s healthcare system is now better prepared after the Covid pandemic, with hospitals capable of detecting hantavirus infections through advanced testing panels.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Andes virus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory disease.
The virus primarily spreads through exposure to infected rodents, their urine, saliva or droppings, though limited human-to-human transmission has been documented after prolonged close contact.
WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove recently clarified that hantavirus spreads “very, very differently” from Covid-19 or influenza and is not transmitted through casual exposure.
Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure and include fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, cough and breathing difficulties in severe cases.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, prompting health authorities to stress preventive measures, rodent control and early detection as key strategies to prevent any possible spread of the disease in the country.
Monday, May 11, 2026