At least three dead on a cruise ship in the Atlantic after an outbreak linked to hantavirus

The World Health Organization confirmed a positive case of hantavirus and five other suspected cases aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, where at least three people died during a voyage across the Atlantic. The vessel was traveling from Ushuaia to Cape Verde with about 170 passengers and 70 crew members. According to the WHO, as reported to the AFP agency, of the six cases detected, three people have died and another remains in intensive care in South Africa. The outbreak was initially identified by South African health authorities, who detected a severe acute respiratory illness among several passengers. The first person affected was a 70-year-old man who began to show symptoms during the voyage and died on board the cruise ship. His body was later disembarked on the island of Saint Helena, a British territory located in the South Atlantic.

We recommend reading: Nurse dies in India after a month infected with the Nipah virus

His 69-year-old wife also fell ill and was transferred in critical condition to a hospital in Johannesburg, where she died days later. Another affected patient, a 69-year-old British citizen, remains admitted to intensive care in South Africa. Sources linked to the case indicated that among the deceased was a couple of Dutch nationality, while the third death occurred inside the vessel and the body remained on board. Health authorities are evaluating isolating two other passengers who have symptoms compatible with the disease and could be hospitalized in Cape Verde. Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding the immediate fate of the cruise ship, which plans to continue its route towards the Canary Islands.

We recommend reading: United States reports nearly 1,000 cases of measles and the health crisis linked to this virus grows

The WHO reported that it is coordinating with the governments involved and with the ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, to assess possible medical evacuations. The MV Hondius is a polar cruise ship that conducts expeditions between Argentina, the South Atlantic, and West Africa, including stops in remote areas such as South Georgia and Saint Helena. According to maritime tracking platforms, the ship was this Sunday near the port of Praia, in Cape Verde. The hantavirus is a disease mainly transmitted by contact with infected rodents, their droppings, urine, or contaminated particles in the air. WHO explained that, although it is uncommon, there is a history of transmission between people and the infection can cause serious respiratory complications that require intensive care.