World Zoonoses Day is being observed across the globe on Monday to raise awareness about diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans and to promote measures for their prevention and control.

Observed annually on July 6, the day commemorates the historic achievement of French scientist Louis Pasteur, who administered the world's first successful rabies vaccine to a human on July 6, 1885. The breakthrough marked a turning point in the fight against zoonotic diseases and laid the foundation for modern preventive medicine.

Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are infectious diseases that can spread between animals and humans through direct contact, contaminated food or water, insect bites, or environmental exposure. Common examples include rabies, bird flu (avian influenza), swine flu, Ebola, Nipah virus, anthrax and certain strains of coronaviruses.

Health experts say increasing interaction between humans, wildlife and domestic animals, coupled with factors such as urbanisation, climate change and global travel, has heightened the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. They stress that early detection, disease surveillance, vaccination of animals, food safety measures and public awareness are essential to preventing future epidemics and pandemics.

Governments, public health agencies, veterinary organisations and research institutions are marking the occasion through awareness campaigns, educational programmes, seminars and community outreach initiatives. Many of these activities focus on promoting responsible pet ownership, vaccination of domestic animals, improved livestock management and the adoption of the One Health approach, which recognises the close link between human, animal and environmental health.

The World Health Organization (WHO), along with other international health bodies, continues to encourage countries to strengthen collaboration between the medical, veterinary and environmental sectors to improve preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.

Experts note that a significant proportion of newly emerging infectious diseases worldwide originate in animals, making surveillance and prevention a global public health priority.

As World Zoonoses Day is observed, health authorities are urging individuals to follow proper hygiene practices, ensure pets are vaccinated, avoid contact with sick animals and seek immediate medical attention following animal bites or suspected exposure to infectious diseases.

The annual observance serves as a reminder that coordinated efforts among governments, scientists, veterinarians and communities are essential to reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases and protecting public health worldwide.

Hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship rise to 9; death toll hits 3

Global health authorities on high alert as US, French, and Spanish nationals test positive following MV Hondius outbreak.

 International health agencies are scrambling to contain a localized but deadly Hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise vessel MV Hondius. Three more travelers have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to nine. The death toll has now reached three, following the recent passing of a German national on board.

The latest infections include an American and a French tourist who had already returned to their respective home countries before being flagged, alongside a Spanish national currently under quarantine in Madrid. The cluster has sparked a multi-country monitoring effort, with the World Health Organization (WHO) taking the lead in tracking passengers who disembarked at Spain’s Canary Islands.

Tracing the fatal trail

The outbreak first gained international attention following the death of an elderly Dutch traveler on April 11 while the ship was mid-voyage. In a tragic turn of events, his wife was later found dead in South Africa. The situation escalated on May 2 when a German woman died while still aboard the vessel.

Spanish authorities have since implemented stringent protocols at Tenerife Airport. Passengers disembarking from the MV Hondius were seen being sprayed with disinfectant by crews in protective gear before boarding flights to their home destinations.

Extended quarantine periods enforced

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sought to downplay fears of a COVID-style pandemic—noting that human-to-human transmission of Hantavirus is historically rare—they are taking no chances. The WHO has advised a 42-day isolation period for everyone who was aboard the vessel.

In the United States, 17 travelers deemed at risk were transported to the Nebraska Medical Center earlier this week. They are being monitored at the facility’s National Quarantine Unit, a specialized federally funded wing designed for high-consequence pathogens.

Understanding the Hantavirus risk

Hantavirus is traditionally a zoonotic disease, primarily spreading through contact with the saliva, urine, or droppings of infected rodents like rats and squirrels. However, health officials are closely monitoring this specific strain. According to the WHO, the "Andes" strain of the virus has demonstrated the capability for human-to-human transmission through close contact or shared fluids.

The clinical progression of the disease is notoriously aggressive. While symptoms like high fever, body aches, and respiratory distress can take up to eight weeks to manifest, the deterioration thereafter is rapid. Fluid accumulation in the lungs and kidney failure are common complications, with a mortality rate hovering between 35% and 40%.

Treatment challenges and India’s history

Currently, there is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for Hantavirus. Medical intervention is limited to supportive care, including oxygen, ventilator support, and fluid management to stabilize blood pressure.

"Early detection is the only real leverage we have," noted a medical official familiar with the Nebraska cases. "If we catch it before respiratory failure sets in, the survival odds improve significantly."

While often associated with East Asia—specifically China, which sees the bulk of the 1.5 lakh annual global cases—the virus has a documented history in India. Notable cases were recorded in Andhra Pradesh in 2007 and 2008, and more recently in 2016, when a woman in Mumbai succumbed to the infection shortly after childbirth.

Monitoring and next steps

At the Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Michael Wadman described the quarantine environment as hotel-like to minimize stress on the travelers, who are otherwise asymptomatic. "They are being examined daily. If anyone shows a fever, they move immediately to the biocontainment unit," he said.

In Spain and France, local health departments are conducting contact tracing to categorize individuals into low, medium, or high-risk groups based on their proximity to the confirmed cases on the ship. For now, the focus remains on completing the 42-day window to ensure no further "sleeper" cases emerge from the MV Hondius manifest.

Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Two Indian Crew Members Aboard Stricken Cruise Ship

Two Indian nationals are among the crew of the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius, which is at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic Ocean that has claimed three lives and triggered international health alerts.

The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, remains off Cape Verde with around 149 people still on board as it heads toward Spain’s Canary Islands, expected to arrive around May 10. Authorities plan extensive testing and monitoring upon arrival.

Confirmed Cases and Fatalities

Health officials have confirmed five cases of hantavirus infection so far, with three deaths reported. The victims include a Dutch couple and a German passenger. The first fatality was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died aboard the ship on April 11. His wife later succumbed in a South African hospital, while the third victim, a woman, died on May 2.

The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, primarily associated with rodents in South America. This variant is notable because it can, in rare instances, spread from person to person, unlike most other hantaviruses.

Doctor Explains Transmission Dynamics

Dr. Karin Ellen Veldkamp, treating a patient at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, emphasised that the virus does not transmit as easily as Covid-19. “Hantavirus does not spread easily from person to person. Its transmission is much more difficult compared to corona,” she told AFP. Patients are isolated with strict protocols, and isolation continues until symptoms resolve and tests turn negative.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the situation as serious but assessed the risk to the general public as low for now. However, it has issued alerts to multiple countries due to passengers who disembarked earlier, particularly at Saint Helena on April 24.

Ship’s Itinerary and Possible Origin

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20 (or around April 1 according to some timelines), carrying roughly 170 passengers and 71 crew from over 20 nationalities for an Antarctic and South Atlantic expedition. It visited areas around the South Pole before crossing the Atlantic toward Europe.

Initial investigations point to possible exposure during a bird-watching trip by the first victims in parts of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, where specific rodents carrying the virus are found. Argentine authorities are tracing the couple’s movements. Symptoms in the index case appeared around April 6.

Indians on Board

The two Indian crew members form part of a diverse team that includes many from the Philippines and other countries. Their current health status has not been publicly disclosed, and Indian diplomatic missions are understood to be in touch with authorities for updates. The ship also has a doctor on board.

Nationalities on board have included significant numbers from the UK, US, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Canada, among others. Dozens who left at Saint Helena have returned home, prompting contact tracing in countries including Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Singapore.

Containment Measures and Outlook

Passengers and crew showing symptoms are under isolation. Some patients have been evacuated for treatment in South Africa and the Netherlands. The incubation period can extend up to six weeks, raising the possibility of additional cases emerging even after disembarkation.

Local authorities in Cape Verde and Spanish officials are preparing for the ship’s arrival. Strict disease control protocols are in place, with passengers expected to undergo thorough medical screening.

WHO officials have stressed that this is not the start of a wider pandemic, differentiating it clearly from respiratory viruses like Covid-19 due to its limited transmissibility. Still, the incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in long-duration expedition cruises through remote regions.

As the MV Hondius continues its cautious journey, families of those on board and international health agencies remain on high alert. Further updates on the two Indian crew members and overall testing results are anticipated once the vessel reaches the Canary Islands.