Jamaica’s health and border management authorities are increasing monitoring of cruise ships arriving in the island’s ports as a precautionary measure following an outbreak of hantavirus aboard a vessel currently off the coast of Africa.
The virus, which is spread by rodents, has been linked to at least three deaths and several infections on board a cruise ship that departed Argentina on April 1 and has since travelled through parts of the South Atlantic before arriving near Cape Verde.
Three infected passengers were evacuated from the vessel in Cape Verde on Wednesday morning.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said Jamaica is taking precautionary steps due to its position as a major cruise destination, but stressed that the risk of spread remains low.
“The vessel is off the coast of Africa,” she noted, adding that the World Health Organization has assessed the situation as posing a low risk for global transmission.
Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie also said consultations with local health officials have found no evidence of hantavirus in rodents in Jamaica.
However, she confirmed that increased vigilance will be maintained at ports of entry.
She further noted that while Jamaica does not currently have in-country laboratory capacity to test for hantavirus, samples can be processed regionally through the Caribbean Public Health Agency. She added that local testing capacity could be scaled up if needed, similar to arrangements made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause severe illness, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. According to international health authorities, a total of seven cases — including three deaths — have been reported aboard the affected cruise ship, which carries passengers and crew of multiple nationalities and is currently moored off Cabo Verde.
Health officials in Jamaica say enhanced monitoring will continue as part of broader port safety measures, particularly given the country’s reliance on cruise tourism.
