The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday.
“To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases,” the WHO said on X. “Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.”
An investigation is underway to determine what caused the onboard health crisis. A Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that two Dutch passengers died, without providing further details.
Hantaviruses occur worldwide and are typically spread through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents such as rats and mice. The virus can cause a severe lung illness known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be fatal, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While person-to-person transmission is rare, the WHO said it can occur. There is no specific antiviral treatment or cure for hantavirus infections, but prompt medical care can improve chances of survival.
South African authorities identified the vessel as the MV Hondius and said about 150 tourists were onboard. The ship departed Argentina around three weeks ago on a voyage that included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other ports en route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Health officials in South Africa are conducting contact tracing in the Johannesburg area to determine whether others were exposed to the infected passengers after disembarkation.
Edited by: Rana Taha
