The individual was apparently diagnosed with the rodent-borne virus after taking a flight alongside someone with the disease, marking the first confirmed infection in someone with no direct connection to the MV Hondius. Three further patients have been evacuated for treatment elsewhere, including a British medic from the ship, a sailor of Dutch nationality, and one German guest. World Health Organization chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus has said the trio is currently “on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands.” Another person has been hospitalized in Zurich, where authorities insist there is “no risk to the Swiss public.” The pathogen behind the outbreak, dubbed the Andes virus, stands alone among hantaviruses for its ability to spread between humans, with a mortality rate that may reach 40 percent. A Dutch woman aged 69 left the vessel at Saint Helena, flew onward to Johannesburg, and died there—potentially exposing as many as 114 fellow travelers.
Scariest call I ever got was when I got home from a week long Yosemite trip. The CDC called and said people were getting sick because of mice droppings at my camp site!
Their plan? They told me to self isolate for a week and if I wasn’t dead, cool. I just had to report if I was feeling sick but there wasn’t much that could be done. Longest week ever.
The mother of my daughters was so pissed at me for taking them camping, like I knew there was an invisible disease spreading.