Cruise ship passengers trace the origin of the hantavirus outbreak: It's being said here that it may have been the Dutch couple'

"The epidemiology of the virus, the chronology of the infections, and the accounts of the travelers reinforce the theory of person-to-person transmission on board the MV Hondius. Initially, investigators looked for mice as the source of the infection, but this may have been the wrong lead."

"First, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that the disease originated from the Andes Strain. This is the only variant of the virus that is spread not only from mice to humans but also from human to human."

"Given that they had all shared spaces and activities, it was believed that it might be a case of group infection, through inhaling aerosols of rodent feces, urine, or saliva. This is the most common way to become infected with hantavirus."

A hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius resulted in eight infections, three deaths, and two patients requiring intensive hospitalization. Initial investigations suspected environmental transmission through rodent feces, urine, or saliva in enclosed spaces. However, emerging epidemiological evidence shifted focus toward human-to-human transmission. The WHO confirmed the Andes Strain as the source, the only hantavirus variant capable of spreading between humans. The chronology of infections and passenger accounts support this theory, suggesting a Dutch couple who had traveled through South America may have been the initial infected individuals who transmitted the virus to other passengers through shared spaces and activities.

Read at english.elpais.com