Fiji monitors deadly hantavirus outbreak

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is closely monitoring a hantavirus outbreak linked to the Hondius cruise ship, now anchored off Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.

The Fiji Centre for Disease Control understands that eight cases had been identified so far, including three deaths.

Health officials stressed that no cases had been reported in Fiji and none of the cruise ship passengers were from Fiji.

“The risk to Fiji from this cruise ship outbreak is very low,” the ministry said.

The ministry said strict health inspection and declaration protocols remained in place for all vessels entering Fiji’s ports to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

“As part of standard protocols, in line with international requirements, all ships at international ports of entry in Fiji are subject to strict health declaration and inspection requirements before clearance for entry,” the ministry stated.

These include Ship Sanitation Certificates, which contain de-ratting information, and Maritime Declarations of Health identifying any sick passengers on board.

Environmental Health Officers also board vessels for inspections, with further action taken under contingency plans if required.

The ministry said surveillance systems were also in place to monitor infectious diseases, alongside protocols for isolation and treatment through the Border Health Protection Unit in Nadi if needed.

Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease transmitted through exposure to the urine, faeces or saliva of infected rodents such as rats and mice.

While the virus is not easily spread between humans, health authorities noted that the Andes strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak has previously shown transmission among close contacts.