In light of the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship and the need to strengthen One Health protocols for activities involving contact with nature and wildlife

The recent epidemiological episode linked to the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship has once again placed at the center of scientific and health debate a reality that the international community has been pointing out for decades: increased human contact with natural ecosystems and wildlife raises the risk of the emergence and transmission of zoonoses.

The epidemiological information available to date suggests that the detected cases are consistent with infection by the Andes variant of hantavirus, a strain endemic to certain regions of South America, especially Argentina and Chile. This hantavirus variant is the only one in which limited human-to-human transmission has been documented under certain circumstances. However, the scientific evidence accumulated over decades clearly states that the main transmission mechanism continues to be exposure to contaminated particles from the excrement, urine, or secretions of infected wild rodents.

Beyond this specific case, this episode reflects a much broader phenomenon of enormous relevance to global health. The expansion of nature tourism, expeditions to remote ecosystems, human pressure on wild habitats, and climate change are rapidly altering the interaction between people, animals, and the environment. In this context, the General Council of Colleges of Biologists considers it a priority to move towards the implementation of robust preventative protocols based on the One Health approach, a scientific strategy that understands human health, animal health, and ecosystem health as inseparable dimensions.

The identification, analysis, and prevention of these risks require specialized knowledge about ecosystem functioning, population dynamics, and interspecies interactions. Biology professionals play an essential role in this area, contributing scientific expertise to decision-making related to public and environmental health. The prevention of future zoonoses does not depend solely on hospitals or healthcare systems. It also depends on how we manage our relationship with ecosystems and on our collective capacity to understand that human health and the health of the planet are part of the same biological reality.

The General Council of Official Colleges of Biologists thus reaffirms its commitment to the relevant authorities and entities to provide a response based on scientific evidence, international cooperation, and the effective implementation of One Health strategies as an essential tool for addressing the health and environmental challenges of the 21st century.