Hantavirus outbreak kills 3 on cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, WHO says
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Three people have died and at least six others are believed to be infected with hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- One infection has been confirmed by laboratory testing, while five additional cases are suspected, with one patient currently in intensive care in South Africa.
- The WHO is conducting detailed investigations, including virus sequencing, and is coordinating with member states and the ship's operators to evacuate symptomatic passengers and provide medical support.
- Hantaviruses are typically transmitted through exposure to rodent urine, saliva, or feces and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness with a high fatality rate.
- Symptoms include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and respiratory distress, with more than one-third of patients experiencing respiratory symptoms potentially dying from the syndrome.
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