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Unless you have been avoiding the news lately, you have likely heard about the hantavirus outbreak now affecting several countries, including the U.S. The virus originated on the Dutch MV Hondius cruise line, which departed from Argentina on April 1.
While the spread of the virus is sparking panic and fear that it could be the start of a COVID-like pandemic or even worse, the good news is that the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and infectious disease doctors don’t think that’s likely at this point.
The CDC has classified the outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response, reported ABC News. Level 3 is considered to be the lowest level of emergency activation, and the WHO said its overall public health risk is low.
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What is the hantavirus?
The hantavirus is a rare infection in humans that causes fever, muscle aches and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. It can be deadly and has a mortality rate of up to 40% when pulmonary symptoms develop. Infections in humans are typically caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine, feces or saliva.
What is the Andes strain?
The Andes strain of the hantavirus is rare and can spread between humans. Authorities think it is the cause of this outbreak because of the pattern of illness among passengers and the lack of rodent exposure on the ship suggests person-to-person transmission.
Here’s what is known so far
-As of May 11, there are eight confirmed cases of hantavirus and two probable cases; all are passengers aboard MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina on April 1. Three people have died of the virus.
-Dozens of people disembarked from the MV Hondius on St. Helena on April 24 and traveled around the world. They are being contacted, and contract tracing has begun.
-A passenger who disembarked in St. Helena has since tested positive for hantavirus in Switzerland, sparking concern and panic.
-Seventeen U.S. passengers from the cruise arrived at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which is the country’s only federally funded quarantine center. One of the passengers has tested positive for the virus. Another passenger had “mild” symptoms, the New York Times reported.
-Health officials are monitoring people in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia and other states who had disembarked from the ship before the outbreak was identified and returned to their homes.
-The incubation period is between one and eight weeks, which means illness may not show up for up to two months after exposure.
-Symptoms of hantavirus include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, often followed by coughing and severe difficulty breathing.
What it means for cruise-loving retirees
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If you are a retiree who has a cruise scheduled, this outbreak is not a reason to cancel your plans, says William Schaffner, a professor of medicine, division of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who called this a “one-off” incident.
“This is not a fun-and-frolic cruise,” says Schaffner of the MV Hondius. “This was a group of people interested in nature, scenery and the environment. Because it originated in Argentina, it’s likely the individual who became sick acquired their infection on land hiking or birding and then brought it aboard the ship and may have spread it to a few other people.”
He said retirees going on a cruise should be more worried about norovirus than hantavirus, which is far more common on cruises. The CDC reported more than 100 people on a Caribbean Princess cruise were sickened with the norovirus during its April 28 to May 11 voyage.
“The most important thing is if you are ill, don’t go on the cruise, postpone your trip because you may be the person who brings the virus on board and spreads it to others,” said Schaffner.
Keep in mind that hantavirus is predominantly spread through rodents, something the cruise industry goes to great lengths to keep off its ships. Health officials across the U.S., Europe, and Canada share this priority, inspecting all ships at their ports to provide official hygiene and sanitation scores
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conducts unannounced public health inspections twice a year for cruise ships that carry 13 or more passengers. Ships are graded on a 100-point scale. A score of 85 or lower is considered a failing grade.
The VSP also maintains a public record of outbreaks triggered when at least 3% of those on board report stomach virus symptoms to the medical team. You can search the databases on the VSP website or through its Inspection Query Tool. The EU SHIPSAN and the Public Health Agency of Canada do the equivalent of VSP.
How can you stay safe
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The only way to completely prevent an illness is to skip the cruise in the first place. Short of that, there are steps you can take to stay healthy on your next cruise.
Brunilda Nazario, MD and chief physician editor, medical affairs, at WebMD, says to prepare a health kit with over-the-counter items you’d normally need if you got ill, including pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medication, antacids and motion sickness remedies.
If you travel to risky areas, Nazario says to listen to your body, monitor yourself for symptoms, take daily temperature checks, and if any symptoms appear while you are on the ship, contact the medical or health officials immediately.
“It’s important to stay up to date with your vaccinations, clean your hands frequently while you travel, stay away from anyone who appears ill, and get medical attention right away if you’re feeling ill, especially if you are at high risk for severe illness,” she said.
Travel insurance for peace of mind?
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You may also want to consider travel insurance. However, it comes with limitations, depending on what type of coverage you buy.
Basic travel insurance covers pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs when a customer with cancellation coverage has to cancel their cruise due to a reason covered by their policy, says Daniel Durazo, a spokesman for insurance provider Allianz Partners USA.
Travel insurance with emergency medical coverage and medical transportation, which is more expensive, typically covers emergency medical treatment while traveling and may reimburse the cost of a visit to the ship’s infirmary. It can also pay to get you home if you become seriously ill or injured while traveling, he said.
“Other products, known as cancel for any reason products, may allow insured customers to cancel their trip for almost any unforeseen reason, providing additional flexibility,” says Durazo. “These products are typically more expensive than standard products and may only cover a percentage of non-refundable expenses, so consumers should consider whether a standard product may provide the coverage they need.”
Just breathe and don’t panic
While news of the outbreak is scary, and it’s understandable to worry about a pandemic, the best thing you can do is go about your life, and if you have a cruise booked, proceed accordingly.
Take the normal steps you would to prepare, follow proper hygiene, stay on top of any updates from the CDC and WHO and get ready to enjoy your trip.