Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship in Atlantic – WHO

A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has killed three people and left at least three others ill, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the WHO said an investigation was under way but that at least one case of hantavirus had been confirmed.

Hantavirus, found throughout the world, is spread by contact with rodents or their urine or faeces.

One of the patients was in intensive care in a South African hospital, the UN’s health agency said, adding that it was working with authorities to evacuate two other passengers with symptoms from the ship.

“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said.

“Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.”

While rare, WHO said hantavirus infections can be spread between people and they can lead to severe respiratory illness.

There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.

The WHO did not identify the vessel, but South African media reports said the outbreak happened on the MV Hondius cruise ship while it was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa.

The MarineTraffic global shipping website identified the vessel as a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship. It located it as docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night.

South African media, quoting South African health department spokesperson Foster Mohale, said the first victim, an elderly man, died on the ship. His wife later died in a South African hospital, Mr Mohale said.

Hantavirus was in the news after the late actor Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus infection in New Mexico last year. Hackman died a week later at their home.