New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the evolving situation relating to reported cases of hantavirus infection onboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, it said on Friday, as officials confirmed that three people had died and five cases had been laboratory-verified among eight probable infections recorded aboard the vessel.
The ministry said it was working in noting that no hantavirus cases have been reported on Indian soil and that the country’s surveillance networks remain fully active. coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other international health authorities. WHO was formally notified of the outbreak in the first week of this month under the International Health Regulations (IHR) framework.
The virus has been identified as the Andes strain of hantavirus, known for its comparatively limited capacity for human-to-human transmission. The strain generally requires close and prolonged contact to spread between individuals. WHO has assessed the current public health risk as low, though authorities have cautioned that additional cases may emerge given the pathogen’s relatively long incubation period.
According to sources in tbe ministry information received through IHR channels indicates that two Indian nationals are currently onboard the vessel.
“Both individuals are presently asymptomatic and are under observation in accordance with established international health protocols,” a source said.
A senior health ministry official stated that the WHO is coordinating international response measures under the IHR mechanism, including strengthening diagnostic support, facilitating epidemiological assessment, and ensuring safe disembarkation and onward travel arrangements for passengers and crew.
In view of the evolving situation, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) under IDSP at the NCDC convened a high-level review meeting involving senior officials from IDSP and IHR-NFP India.
The Ministry emphasised that its activation of surveillance mechanisms is precautionary in nature, consistent with India’s obligations under the International Health Regulations and its practice of proactive public health response.
Officials confirmed India remains in close contact with WHO and other international partners, and will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
