Hantavirus: Singapore tests two after deadly Atlantic cruise outbreak

Singapore has isolated two residents who were onboard a cruise ship linked to a deadly outbreak of hantavirus.

Both men, aged 67 and 65, had been onboard the MV Hondius when it departed Argentina on April 1, the Communicable Diseases Agency said in a statement Thursday. “One has a runny nose but is otherwise well, and the other is asymptomatic,” CDA said. The test results for hantavirus are pending.

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If they test negative for hantavirus, they will be quarantined for 30 days from the date of last exposure. If tested positive, they will remain hospitalised for monitoring and treatment given the potential severity of infection, CDA said.

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The two men — a Singaporean and a permanent resident — were also on the same flight as a confirmed hantavirus case from St Helena to Johannesburg on April 25 after they disembarked from the ship. The confirmed case did not travel to Singapore and later died in South Africa, according to the agency.

The virus is primarily transmitted from rodents to humans, though the Andes strain found in South America has shown potential for limited human-to-human transmission.

Authorities are still investigating how the virus was transmitted on board.

Three passengers have died, six people have contracted the virus and another two are suspected cases. The World Health Organisation currently maintains that the risk to the general global population remains low.

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