NEHRA Issues Hantavirus Alert

The Health Ministry issued an alert regarding the spread of Hantavirus following a suspected outbreak on the cruise ship M/V Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean. The serious illness that is transmitted mainly through infected rodents, has resulted in the death of three people while another three are currently hospitalised.

The vessel is currently off the coast of Cape Verde and has 149 people onboard.

The operator of the tour company, Oceanwide Expeditions, said there are also two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and the other severe.

In a post to its Instagram page on Monday, the Northeast Regional Health Authority cautioned Jamaicans that people can become infected by breathing in dust, or by touching surfaces contaminated by rodent faeces, urine or saliva, then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, fatigue and shortness of breath.