St. Kitts and Nevis National Among Passengers Linked to Hantavirus Outbreak

Photo Credit: Reuters

ST. KITTS & NEVIS – The government of St. Kitts and Nevis is closely monitoring an international outbreak of Hantavirus linked to the cruise vessel MV Hondius.

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer says that while one citizen of the twin-island federation was among those aboard the vessel, “there are currently no reported or suspected cases of Hantavirus in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

The British government confirmed a third British national has been diagnosed and is currently on a remote Atlantic island where the ship stopped in mid-April.

Two other British men have confirmed cases, where one remain in stable condition in the Netherlands while the other is in intensive care in South Africa.

Five cases of Hantavirus have been confirmed in total, including one fatality among the cruise passengers.

Hantavirus is a serious zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, particularly mice and rats.

Infection may occur when contaminated particles from rodent nesting materials become airborne and are subsequently inhaled.