How a rare bird search turned a Dutch birdwatcher into ‘patient zero’ of a deadly cruise outbreak | World News

A Spanish Civil Guard officer inspects the area where passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. (Photo: AP/ Leo Schilperoord/ Facebook)

A 70-year-old Dutch birdwatcher was identified as the first known case of the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, MV Hondius, according to reports the New York Post.

Leo Schilperoord, an ornitholog from the Netherlands, is believed to have contracted the virus during a birdwatching trip to a landfill site near Ushuaia ahead of boarding the vessel.

‘Patient zero’ identified

Schilperoord and his wife, Mirjam Schilperoord, had been travelling across South America for several months before joining the cruise ship in April this year.

He developed symptoms including fever, headache and stomach pain days after boarding and later died on the ship.

Workers set up temporary shelters in the area where passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. (Photo: AP)

According to investigators, the couple may have been exposed to the virus on March 27 during a visit to a landfill site outside Ushuaia.Story continues below this ad

The area is known to attract birdwatchers because of rare species, but authorities say it is also home to rodents that might carry the hantavirus.

“It is common for birdwatchers to visit landfills because there are many birds there,” a local guide was quoted as saying.

Health officials suspect the infection may have occurred through inhalation of particles from rodent droppings.

Wife dies after evacuation

Mirjam Schilperoord later disembarked the ship with her husband’s body at a stop and travelled to South Africa.Story continues below this ad

She fell ill while attempting to return to the Netherlands and died shortly afterwards.

Workers set up temporary shelters in the area where passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are expected to arrive at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. (Photo: AP)

The MV Hondius had more than 100 passengers on board, many of them scients or birdwatchers.

Authorities are continuing to trace contacts and investigate the spread of the virus, including concerns over the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can transmit between humans.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a disease mainly spread rodents. People can get the infection breathing in particles from rodent urine or droppings.Story continues below this ad

Some strains can cause severe illness and, in rare cases, spread from human to human.

(With inputs from agencies)