Apparent hantavirus outbreak kills 3 on cruise ship, sickens at least 3 more, health officials say

Key Points:

• A suspected hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in three deaths, including an elderly married couple, and at least three others falling ill, according to WHO and South Africa's Department of Health.
• The ship, carrying around 150 tourists and 70 crew members, is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, where local authorities have not allowed anyone to disembark; two sick crew members require urgent medical care.
• WHO is conducting investigations, including virus sequencing and epidemiological studies, while emphasizing the low risk to the wider public and advising against panic or travel restrictions.
• The first victim died onboard near Saint Helena, the wife died in South Africa attempting to return to the Netherlands, and a British patient is in intensive care in Johannesburg after falling ill near Ascension Island.
• Hantaviruses, spread mainly through contact with rodent excreta, cause severe lung or kidney syndromes, have no specific cure, but early medical treatment can improve survival chances; WHO and health authorities are conducting contact tracing and risk assessments.