Health Ministry Monitoring Hantavirus Situation
The Ministry of Health is monitoring reports of hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship near Cape Verde, with local officials noting that “at this time, there is no known risk to Bermuda.”
A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Health is aware of reports of hantavirus infections linked to the Dutch‑flagged ship MV Hondius, which is currently near Cape Verde.
“The Ministry’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit is watching the situation closely. Bermuda’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shaun Ramroop, is in contact with international health partners, including the UK Health Security Agency, to make sure Bermuda receives timely updates.
“At this time, there is no known risk to Bermuda. The ship has not visited Bermuda during this trip, and there are no suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus on the island.”
Dr. Ramroop said the Ministry is prepared: “We are in continuous communication with international health authorities and are reviewing all available information. Right now, the risk to Bermuda is low, but our systems are ready to detect and respond quickly if anything changes.”
A Government spokesperson added, “Hantavirus is usually spread from rodents to people through contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or dust that has been contaminated. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, cough, or trouble breathing. In some cases, the illness can become serious. Person‑to‑person spread is uncommon. International investigations are ongoing.
“Bermuda’s public health systems remain in place to detect and respond to any health concerns. All vessels arriving in Bermuda must continue to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health. Any reports of unusual illness on board will be checked by Port Health before the vessel is cleared to enter. Healthcare providers have been alerted to watch for possible symptoms of hantavirus.
“People travelling to affected areas should avoid contact with rodents, wash their hands often, and seek medical care if they develop symptoms. They should also tell their healthcare provider about any recent travel.”
Minister of Health Kim Wilson encouraged calm and awareness: “While this situation is unfolding far from our shores, we are taking every precaution to ensure Bermuda remains protected. Our public health teams are actively monitoring developments, and we will continue to keep our community informed with clear and timely updates.”
A Government spokesperson added, “The Ministry will continue to review new information and will update the public if the risk changes or if any action is needed. The public is encouraged to rely on official Ministry updates.”
“at this time, there is no known risk to Bermuda.”
Really? There is no known risk to Bermuda from something happening off the coast of African on a luxury cruise ship with 150 or so passengers and 50 or so crew on board?
Health officials need to trace back to Rat Zero. Which means every port visited by the ship needs to be alerted. Any ship docked near the MV Hondius must be tracked down and checked. The supply chain to the ship needs to be investigated. The tracing could go back months. A huge effort if done properly.
Or they could open a few valves and let the rats believe the ship is sinking.
Rats have evolved and moved to First Class accommodations, where the cuisine and bedding are better. The ship would sink before the water level reaches First Class.
That’s not gonna fly. Peek at the OBA for instances-the valves have been wide open for years on this political party, yet the rats cling on like barnacles dreaming of a win. The ship’s rusting at the bottom of the ocean while they bicker over who gets the last soggy life preserver.
A 50% mortality rate means that half (50%) of a defined population or group dies from a specific cause or within a specific timeframe. It indicates a very high-risk scenario, often used to describe severe disease outcomes or acute fatal conditions. Synonyms include 50% death rate, 50% case fatality rate (if applied to diagnosed cases), or a 0.5 probability of death.
This one ain’t COVID folks!! She ain’t playin’ nice with those type of numbers
I would suggest that you look into the research used to calculate any mortality rate. The best example of a bungled mortality rate is Ebola. The initial claimed/reported mortality rate ranged from 80% to 90%. The sample sizes were not large.
“Mortality varies widely across outbreaks. Early outbreaks in 1976–1990 had rates as high as 80–90% due to limited medical care. The 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, the largest in history, had a mortality rate of approximately 39.5% because of improved international medical intervention.”
“improved international medical intervention: Translation. I was impressed by the UN investigating teams and their findings. Ebola broke out in remote jungle areas, and patients were treated in jungle hospitals. Medical supplies were always low. Syringes, IVs, tubing, etc., used on Ebola patients were reused. Even though washed out with a disinfectant, the supplies now carried the resilient Ebola virus. Basically, patients were being re-infected with the virus. Patients died because the reused supplies used to treat them were killing them. Sad.