Three people have died and five others have fallen ill following a suspected virus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. One case of hantavirus has been confirmed, and a 69-year-old British national remains in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Details of the Outbreak
The outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde. According to MarineTraffic, the vessel was docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night.
South African authorities informed the BBC that the first person to show symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger who died on board. His body is now on Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. His 69-year-old wife also became ill on the ship and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital.
WHO Response
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated it is working with authorities to evacuate two other passengers with symptoms from the ship. In a statement, WHO said: "To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases. Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa."
WHO added that detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew, and sequencing of the virus is also underway.
About Hantavirus
Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to the feces or urine of infected rodents, according to WHO. While rare, the virus can spread between people and lead to severe respiratory illness. There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.
Hantavirus gained attention last year when the late actor Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus infection in New Mexico. Hackman died a week later at their home.
More follows on this breaking news story.
