Expert: Hantavirus on cruise ship differs from strain found in China

As a hantavirus cluster on the cruise ship MV Hondius has led to eight reported cases, a Chinese infectious disease expert has moved to ease public concerns, noting that human-to-human transmission of the most common strain of hantavirus in China is rare.

Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at WHO, said in a Thursday news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, that the hantavirus cluster on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius has led to eight reported cases, five of which have been confirmed, and three deaths.

She stressed that the cases are not the start of a new pandemic, but noted that given the Andes virus' incubation period of up to six weeks, more cases may yet be reported.

Chinese health experts have moved to ease public concerns. Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the infectious disease department at Beijing You'an Hospital, said the cases involve hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome — a form not seen in China.

"In contrast, infections of the hantavirus strain in China typically cause kidney damage, and are generally not transmitted from person to person," Li added.