A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has resulted in three deaths and several others requiring urgent medical care. The incident occurred on the MV Hondius, which was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.
The cruise ship set sail from Argentina with about 150 passengers on board. It made stops in Antarctica before heading to Cape Verde. Currently, one patient remains in intensive care in South Africa, while two crew members require urgent medical care.
The World Health Organization is coordinating medical evacuation for symptomatic passengers. They stated that hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to infected rodents’ urine or faeces.
Siouxsie Wiles, a public health expert, expressed concern over the outbreak, saying, “The death of three people from a rare virus while on a cruise ship is concerning.” Sequencing of the virus is ongoing as part of the investigation.
The exact source of the hantavirus outbreak is not confirmed. Officials are still assessing the situation and determining how many passengers may need medical attention.
