Hong Kong seeks more details from WHO on hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Hong Kong seeks WHO details on hantavirus outbreak aboard Atlantic cruise ship, steps up screening to keep deadly strain at bay. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Hong Kong seeks more details from WHO on hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

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Hong Kong health authorities are urgently seeking more information from the World Health Organization about an outbreak of a deadly hantavirus strain on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, as the city ramps up efforts to prevent the rare disease from reaching its shores. The Centre for Health Protection under the Department of Health confirmed on Thursday that it had contacted the WHO regarding the cluster of infections reported aboard the MV Hondius, a vessel currently navigating Atlantic waters. The strain involved is capable of limited human-to-human transmission, a characteristic that has heightened concerns among global health officials and prompted Hong Kong to act swiftly. The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius is the first known cluster of its kind on a cruise ship, raising questions about how the virus spread among passengers and crew in a confined maritime environment. Hantaviruses are typically transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, and most strains do not pass easily between people. However, the specific strain identified in this outbreak has shown an ability to spread through close human contact, albeit in a limited capacity. This has alarmed health experts because it increases the risk of wider outbreaks in settings like ships, hospitals, or densely populated urban centers. Hong Kong, a global travel hub with a dense population, has historically been vigilant against imported infectious diseases. The city’s health authorities have now stepped up surveillance at entry points, including airports and seaports, screening travelers who may have been on the MV Hondius or visited regions where the hantavirus is present. The Centre for Health Protection is also reviewing its preparedness plans and coordinating with local hospitals to ensure that any suspected cases can be quickly isolated and treated. The department has not yet disclosed whether any passengers from the ship have arrived in Hong Kong, but officials are actively monitoring the situation. The WHO has not yet released a full report on the MV Hondius outbreak, and the exact number of cases or fatalities remains unclear based on the information available to Hong Kong...

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Categoria: cronaca