Industry Odisha Bureau, May 8: Even though more cases of Hantavirus-infected passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius are being reportedly detected positive apart from the initially reported three deaths when the shocking news hogged the headlines and has put everyone on tenterhooks across the globe, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reportedly denied the perturbing phenomenon being the onset of yet another Covid pandemic.
While the WHO has averred that the fatal Hantavirus poses low risk to the public, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has also reportedly placated the pan-global public scare by “classifying the outbreak as ‘Level 3’ emergency, the lowest”.
WHO Director-General (DG) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has also reportedly stated, “While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low”.
Moreover, Pune-based ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) Director Dr Naveen Kumar has also reportedy reiterated, “The reported Hantavirus cases appear to be isolated ones, and there is no immediate public health threat to India.”
Such assuaging remarks of Dr Kumar has been reported by media owing to the unconfirmed reports that two Indian nationals, also aboard the same cruise ship MV Hondius, have been tested Hantavirus positive.
Dr Kumar has also reportedly explained, “Human beings get infected with the deadly Hantavirus only after coming into contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids, such as saliva, urine and faeces.”
Dr Kumar has reportedly elaborated, “The virus is typically acquired by inhaling aerosolised particles in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces like warehouses, ships, barns, and storage facilities.”
Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency reportedly said today (May 8), “Two British nationals have been confirmed to have contracted Hantavirus, with a third suspected of infection.”
However, the UK Health Security Agency reportedly added, “None of the British citizens on board the cruise ship MV Hondius is currently reporting symptoms, but they are being closely monitored. All British passengers and crew onboard will be asked to isolate for 45 days upon returning to Britain.”
As per media reports, the UK Health Security Agency further added, “The agency is aware that seven British nationals disembarked the ship at St Helena, a South Atlantic island, on April 24. Two of them have returned to Britain and are isolating at home and have not reported symptoms of infection.”
