Key facts:

• A hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship has killed three people and sickened others.
• Seven of the 147 passengers and crew have been reported ill, including two confirmed and five suspected cases.
• The illness can start with flu-like symptoms and rapidly progress to become life-threatening.
• The WHO assessed the overall risk to the public as low.

Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO stated, “Our assumption is that they were infected off the ship.” She confirmed that one case tested positive for hantavirus. Hantaviruses are carried by rodents and can cause severe illness in humans, but human-to-human transmission is rare.

Officials reported that two patients are being prepared for medical evacuation, while one remains in intensive care. Passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins as disinfection measures are carried out. The ship is expected to proceed to the Canary Islands after evacuating infected patients.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has a fatality rate of about 35%. In contrast, gastrointestinal outbreaks caused by norovirus affected 23 cruise ships last year, with 18 of those outbreaks specifically attributed to norovirus. This highlights ongoing public health challenges within the cruise industry.

The exact virus causing this outbreak is still being sequenced, and whether there is any significant human-to-human transmission is under investigation. Meanwhile, experts continue to monitor the situation closely.

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One patient is currently in intensive care in South Africa. Two crew members also require urgent medical care. Six individuals onboard were affected by this suspected outbreak, which has raised serious concerns among health officials.

The cruise ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, approximately three weeks ago, making several stops before heading to Cape Verde. The first patient to show symptoms was a 70-year-old man who died on the ship. His 69-year-old wife later succumbed to the disease in a Johannesburg hospital.

The WHO stated, “Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure (exposure to infected rodents’ urine or faeces).” Hantavirus can lead to severe respiratory illness and hemorrhagic fever. There are at least 38 recognized species of hantavirus globally, with 24 known to cause disease in humans.

Health experts have noted that hantavirus infections are rare and often misdiagnosed as other illnesses. A small number of studies have documented potential human-to-human spread of certain strains, but evidence remains inconclusive.

Medical evacuations are being coordinated as part of public health measures aimed at controlling the situation. Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological assessments.

The nationalities of the deceased individuals have not been disclosed. The situation aboard the MV Hondius continues to develop as health authorities monitor symptomatic individuals closely.

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