DH follows up on hantavirus infection cluster on cruise ship in Atlantic Ocean
In view of a hantavirus infection cluster on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (May 7) that it had proactively sought further information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities during the past few days. According to the information provided by the WHO and the relevant health authorities, it has been confirmed that there are no Hong Kong residents on the cruise ship in question. Based on the WHO's current assessment, the risk to global health posed by the incident is low. As a precaution, the CHP has distributed the latest health information and guidelines to the travel industry. At the immigration level, the CHP will continue to conduct health screenings for arrivals at all boundary control points and perform health assessments on individuals with a fever, referring relevant individuals to hospitals for medical examinations as needed.
According to the WHO's notification, the cruise ship carried a total of 147 passengers and crew members, who boarded the vessel in Argentina on April 1, 2026. As of May 6, the hantavirus infection cluster involved eight cases (three confirmed and five suspected cases). The first case presented symptoms on April 6. Three of the patients have passed away. Further laboratory testing showed that the hantaviruses in two of the confirmed cases belonged to the Andes genotype, which is currently the only type of hantaviruses confirmed to have limited human-to-human transmission.
"The CHP's Port Health Division has contacted the Airport Authority Hong Kong, as well as relevant organisations and operators in the travel industry (including the Airline Operators' Committee Hong Kong, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, management companies of ferry terminals, cruise operators) to provide them with information on the epidemiological development of the hantaviruses, preventive measures, guidelines and relevant health information, with a view to strengthening health education for travellers and port staff. Furthermore, the CHP has provided information on rodent control to relevant parties and reminded them to implement various rodent control measures and strengthen environmental hygiene monitoring at all boundary control points," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
Dr Tsui added that hantavirus infection is a statutory notifiable disease in Hong Kong. All doctors must notify the CHP of any suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus infection, enabling the CHP to initiate epidemiological investigations and implement prevention and control measures. At the immigration level, the CHP conducts medical assessments of arrivals who appear unwell or have a fever at all boundary control points. The CHP also refers them to hospitals for medical examinations when necessary. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the latest global situation regarding hantavirus and adjust local prevention and control measures in a timely manner based on risk assessments.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the faeces, saliva or urine of infected rodents or by inhaling the virus in aerosolised particles of their excreta. Other routes of infection include being bitten or scratched by infected rodents; eating food contaminated with the virus; and touching the eyes, nose or mouth without washing hands after contact with contaminated objects. Human-to-human transmission is relatively rare.
Diseases in humans caused by hantaviruses can be broadly classified into two categories, namely Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. The incubation period for hantavirus is generally two to four weeks, but can be as short as one week or as long as eight weeks. Depending on the category of infection, symptoms may include fever, intense headache, muscle ache, back pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue and blurred vision. Severe cases may present with respiratory symptoms (such as coughing and shortness of breath), low blood pressure and acute kidney failure. The fatality rate of the disease can be as high as about 40 per cent.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent hantavirus infection. Treatment primarily consists of supportive care. Therefore, seeking medical attention early is crucial.
As of May 6, no cases of hantavirus infection have been reported in Hong Kong this year. Over the past five years, an average of zero to two cases of hantavirus infection have been recorded annually in Hong Kong.
To prevent the hantavirus infection, the public should take the following measures:
- Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash hands with liquid soap and water;
- Eliminate sources of food or nesting places for rodents inliving environments to preventrodent infestation;
- Avoid contact with rodents, handling live or dead rodents with bare hands, entering rodent infested space, handling rodent excreta or nests, keeping wild rodents as pets; handling equipment kept in areas found with rodents, gardening with bare hands; lying on the ground, and living in residences frequented by rodents; and
- Travellers should avoid visiting or staying in areas with poor environmental hygiene and avoid contacting rodents or their excreta.Adventure travellers and campers should take precautions to exclude rodents from tents or other accommodation and to protect all food from rodent contamination.
- Cruise passengers should take the following measures to prevent and reduce the risk of contracting infectious diseases while on board, as they are often in relatively crowded cabin environments during their voyages:
- contact the cruise line to cancel your trip if you feel unwell before departure;
- immediately notify the ship's medical staff and follow their health advice if you feel unwell during the voyage (e.g., fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc);
- maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times during the voyage;
- wear a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas.
For more information on hantavirus, please visit the CHP's website or the DH's Travel Health Service website.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Photo source: reference image
