In any epidemic outbreak, the first infected person is referred to as 'patient zero.' This means the individual was the first to contract the disease and the source of its transmission.

How the Virus Spread

Global media outlets are now reporting the spread of Hantavirus, which is mostly transmitted through the waste of infected mice or rats.

The virus recently spread on a cruise ship named Hondius. The question now is, who was the 'patient zero' responsible for the spread of this virus?

Stages of Infection

The onset of this disease follows a multi-stage process, beginning with infection by the virus. This is followed by a symptomatic stage, after which the virus begins to spread.

Therefore, it is highly likely that Hantavirus was already spreading before the trip began. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) has identified the first reported case of the outbreak.

Possible Person-to-Person Transmission Case

According to OSINT, a 70-year-old Dutch ornithologist named Leo Schilperoord is believed to have been infected with the Andes strain of Hantavirus before boarding the ship, a strain that can be transmitted from person to person.

He is likely to have been infected after visiting a garbage dump where rats or mice were present.

Deaths and Confirmed Cases on the Ship

Schilperoord died on April 11 after his symptoms worsened, followed by his wife and another German tourist.

According to health officials, the global health threat remains low, but three people on the ship have died from the virus. Three other cases have been confirmed, with two additional suspected infections.