What to know about a suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship

Key Points:

• A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three deaths and multiple illnesses, with investigations and further lab testing ongoing, according to the WHO.
• The first two deaths involved a Dutch couple who fell ill during the voyage between Argentina and the Canary Islands; a British passenger remains in critical condition with confirmed hantavirus infection.
• Two crew members aboard the ship are also experiencing respiratory symptoms, though hantavirus has not been confirmed in these cases or as the cause of the deaths.
• Hantavirus is a rare rodent-borne virus causing serious illnesses such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), transmitted mainly through contact with rodent excretions.
• There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infections; supportive care including respiratory support and dialysis may be necessary depending on symptoms, with fatality rates varying by syndrome and virus type.