Authorities have placed a Polish national under six weeks of monitoring after potential exposure during MV Hondius evacuations. Details about the person’s location and condition remain limited.
A Polish citizen has been placed under sanitary surveillance due to possible contact with hantavirus carriers from the cruise ship MV Hondius. The information was confirmed by the relevant authorities as part of preventive measures to protect the population.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector of Poland, Pavel Gzhesiovskyi, stated that a person who could have come into contact with passengers infected with hantavirus during the evacuation on Saint Helena Island has been placed under epidemiological surveillance. He added that this person is not in Poland, is not ill, and currently has no symptoms. Additionally, their gender and country of residence are not disclosed.
“Based on information obtained from the international surveillance system, a Polish citizen was placed under epidemiological surveillance after possible contact with people infected with hantavirus from the MV Hondius cruise ship”
– Pavel Gzhesiovskyi
Epidemiological surveillance will last six weeks from the moment of potential contact with the virus, corresponding to the maximum incubation period of the disease.
According to official sources, about 150 tourists from various countries were on board the MV Hondius. Among the crew are also five Ukrainian citizens; their health status is currently stable.
Context of events aboard MV Hondius
An outbreak of hantavirus has been reported aboard the vessel in the Atlantic Ocean; there were reports of fatalities. Details about the health status of passengers who may have come into contact with the virus are not disclosed publicly.
A spokesperson for the South African Department of Health said that there were about 150 tourists from various countries on board. It is also known that among the crew there are five Ukrainian citizens; their health status remains stable.
Government authorities continue to monitor the situation and coordinate actions to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure information transparency for the population.