WHO Confirms Hantavirus Outbreak on Atlantic Cruise Ship, Resulting in Three Deaths
A suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The ship was traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde when the outbreak occurred. The WHO confirmed at least one case of hantavirus, a virus typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents' urine or feces. The outbreak has led to three confirmed deaths, including a 70-year-old man who died on board and his 69-year-old wife who passed away in a Johannesburg hospital. Another passenger, a 69-year-old Briton, is in intensive care in South Africa. The WHO is working with the ship's operators and affected member states to facilitate medical evacuations and conduct a full risk assessment.