Deadly Hantavirus: These symptoms should never be ignored

Several passengers on a cruise ship in the Atlantic have contracted the hantavirus, and three people have died – here is what you should know about infection and symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several passengers on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean have contracted hantavirus. At least three passengers have died. These cases demonstrate how serious an infection can be, even though the virus normally only rarely infects humans.

The first symptoms appeared in a 70-year-old passenger who died during the journey. His 69-year-old wife fell ill shortly afterwards, was airlifted to South Africa, and died in a hospital. A spokesperson for the South African Ministry of Health confirmed this information.

A German citizen is among the dead; no further details about him are yet available. The ship "MV Hondius" was travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde when the illnesses broke out.

According to the WHO, a total of six people have fallen ill, one of whom is in intensive care in a South African hospital. However, laboratory tests have so far only confirmed the presence of hantavirus in one of the three deceased individuals. The other deceased are considered suspected cases.

How exactly those affected became infected on board is currently unclear.

How hantaviruses are transmitted

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are primarily spread by rodents. The viruses are mainly found in the urine, faeces, and saliva of infected animals and can thus enter the environment.

It becomes dangerous when dried excrement is stirred up, and virus-containing dust is inhaled. Direct contact with rodents or their droppings can also lead to infection.

According to the CDC, human-to-human transmission is extremely rare. Therefore, this route usually plays no role in everyday life.

The Friedrich Loeffler Institute sees the greatest risk in people who regularly come into contact with rodents or their excrement, for example, at work or during leisure activities.

• Employees in forestry or construction
• People who are in barns, sheds, stables or old buildings infested with rodents
• People who perform activities involving close contact with the ground, such as gardening, logging or stacking wood, hunting
• Staying in regions where rodents have multiplied significantly and occur in high densities

Typical hantavirus symptoms

Many hantavirus infections are mild and go unnoticed. The severity of the symptoms also depends on the specific virus type.

According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, the hantavirus types prevalent in Central Europe often cause flu-like symptoms initially.

• High fever lasting several days
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Back pain

Symptoms typically begin about two to four weeks after infection. In most cases, the illness heals completely.

Severe cases can be life-threatening.

In some cases, hantaviruses lead to a condition called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). This is a severe form in which, in addition to flu-like symptoms, the kidneys and blood vessels are also affected.

Additional signs may also occur:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness and visual disturbances
• Partial bleeding in the conjunctiva of the eyes and in the skin
• Blood pressure drop leading to shock
• Impaired kidney function up to acute kidney failure

According to experts, this severe form of the disease is fatal in approximately five to 15 per cent of cases.

Furthermore, a so-called hantavirus-induced cardiopulmonary syndrome can occur. This primarily affects the heart and lungs, which can quickly make the situation critical.

• high fever
• nausea
• Vomit
• pronounced feeling of weakness
• Abdominal and limb pain

After four to ten days, respiratory problems often develop:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms can worsen rapidly and develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this form, the disease is fatal in approximately one-quarter to 40 per cent of cases.

If you suspect a hantavirus infection, seek medical help immediately or contact the relevant public health department. Early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment.

The most important points in brief

• Six people on a cruise ship in the Atlantic have contracted the hantavirus; three have died, including a German passenger.
• Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their excrement; human-to-human infections are very rare.
• Infections range from flu-like symptoms to life-threatening kidney or lung failure – if you suspect an infection, you should seek medical help immediately.

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