WHO Coordinates Evacuation Amid Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Near Cape Verde
The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the evacuation of three patients from a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde due to a hantavirus outbreak. The ship, carrying nearly 150 people, has recorded eight cases of hantavirus, with three confirmed through laboratory testing. Three individuals have died from the virus, which typically spreads through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings, though person-to-person transmission is rare. The affected patients, including a ship's doctor, are being flown to the Netherlands for specialized treatment. The ship is expected to head to Spain's Canary Islands, despite concerns from local authorities about potential risks to the population. The WHO has stated that the overall public health risk remains low. 
