How was hantavirus transmitted? A visual explanation of the MV Hondius' outbreak

"The first patient involved in the hantavirus outbreak boarded a ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, unaware that he was carrying the virus that would trigger a health crisis. The passenger and his wife, both Dutch, had been traveling around Argentina for weeks before boarding the MV Hondius, an expedition ship. The leading hypothesis is that they were infected off the ship, according to the WHO."

"The man began experiencing symptoms on April 6—fever, headache, mild diarrhea—a few days after the ship departed Ushuaia to begin its Atlantic crossing on April 1. The virus's incubation period lasts between one and six weeks, hence the suspicion that he was already infected when he boarded."

"On April 21, 23 passengers disembarked on Saint Helena, unaware of an outbreak that had not yet been detected. Four days later, the sick woman (case 2) was evacuated from the same island on a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa: her condition deteriorated during the journey and she died the following day."

"Confirmation comes on May 2, when a PCR test detects the infection in patient 3, hospitalized in Johannesburg. Two days later, the illness is also confirmed in case 2. Then contact tracing begins on their flights and also among disembarked passengers, as a WHO spokesperson confirmed to EL PAIS: international contact tracing is underway."

A hantavirus outbreak originated from a Dutch passenger who boarded the MV Hondius expedition ship in Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, likely already infected from travel within Argentina. He developed symptoms on April 6 and died on April 11. His wife, sharing his cabin, showed symptoms on April 24 and died after evacuation to South Africa. A third passenger also developed fever and pneumonia symptoms on April 24. Passengers disembarked on Saint Helena and Ascension Island unaware of the outbreak. The infection was not confirmed until May 2 through PCR testing in Johannesburg, triggering international contact tracing among disembarked passengers and flight contacts.

Read at english.elpais.com