Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hey there. Welcome to Paging Dr. Gupta. Every week, we have been trying to pay attention to what you're seeing, what you're feeling, and the questions you have about your own health. So today, we're going to answer questions about a story that's been unfolding at sea, a hantavirus outbreak. It's been happening on a cruise ship in the Atlantic.
It started last week when a cruise ship on a long voyage made headlines after three passengers died and a handful of others got sick.
Chapter 2: What is hantavirus and why is it a concern?
There was a lot of action over this weekend as passenger evacuations took place, so we're going to have a full update for you at the end of this episode. But first, let's get to your questions. My producer Jennifer is back with us, so what are listeners curious about?
Hey Sanjay. Yes. Listeners have been really curious and a bit concerned about the hantavirus. They want to know what's going on and how worried we all should be.
Chapter 3: What happened during the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship?
Well, first of all, I want to say the hantavirus outbreak is a developing story. I have covered outbreaks for the last 25 years. I know things can change and they can change quickly. They can change every day as we learn more and more. So let's get into it after this short break. Okay, welcome back. We are talking about the hantavirus outbreak on a small cruise ship.
Let me give you a few details that maybe you haven't heard. First of all, the cruise ship is the MV Hondias. It is said not to be a traditional cruise ship, but more of an expedition vessel where passengers get to visit some of the world's most remote islands and see wildlife. There were about 150 people on board, including 17 Americans.
Now, it originated in Argentina, April 1st, making its way to the Antarctic, and then making its way north in the Atlantic. And that's when it started to run into trouble. people began to get sick. And according to the World Health Organization, passengers fell ill between April 6th and April 28th. Again, it departed April 1st. People started to get sick between April 6th and April 28th.
Keep these dates in mind because they are relevant here. The symptoms they had included fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and then shock. And then as of this recording on Monday evening, there have been at least nine cases, seven confirmed and two probable of hantavirus infections from the ship.
Three passengers have died, including a couple from the Netherlands. The man sadly died on board the ship on April 11th. The wife then collapsed at an airport in South Africa as she was trying to fly home to the Netherlands. She was taken to a nearby hospital and she died there.
Now, going back to those dates again, this couple was believed to have possibly been exposed before they boarded the ship. A German woman then died on board the ship as well. Her death is a confirmed hantavirus case. And then again, as I mentioned, six additional confirmed or suspected cases among passengers and crew. Here's a few things you need to know.
On April 24th, about 30 passengers, including seven from the United States, disembarked the ship in St. Helena. That's a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean. This was part of a scheduled disembarkment before hantavirus was confirmed aboard the ship. So yes, people had gotten sick, but they weren't sure what it was at the time these passengers disembarked.
Those passengers live in several states, Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia, as well as other countries. What's happening now is public health officials have been working to track them down for testing and monitoring.
So Sanjay, can you explain a bit about hantavirus and what is the Andy strain?
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