Three dead in suspected virus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship
Three people have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) told the BBC.
It was stated that one case was confirmed and five suspected cases were under investigation. A 69-year-old British citizen is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hantavirus is usually transmitted from rodents to humans through urine or feces. It can cause serious respiratory diseases. It can rarely be transmitted between people.
The UK Foreign Office told the BBC it was monitoring the reports and stood ready to support British citizens.
The outbreak was reported on the cruise ship MV Hondius traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
South African health ministry spokesman Foster Mohale had previously told the BBC that at least two people had died.
MV Hondius is operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.
According to the itinerary on its website, MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on March 20 and was expected to complete its journey in Cape Verde on May 4.
It is described as a 107.6-metre (353 ft) polar cruise ship with 170 passengers in 80 cabins, 57 crew, 13 guides and a doctor.
[BBC]
South African officials told the BBC that the first person to show symptoms of the virus was a 70-year-old passenger who died on the plane. His remains are now on the island of Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.
His wife, 69, also fell ill on the ship and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a hospital in Johannesburg.
According to AFP news agency, citing a source close to the incident, the husband and wife were a Dutch couple.
The source, speaking anonymously, told AFP that the third death was still on the ship and talks were ongoing to decide whether the other two sick passengers would be placed in isolation at a hospital in Cape Verde.
It was reported that the ship will then set out for Spain’s Canary Islands.
WHO said it was helping coordinate between member states and ship operators on the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as a full public health risk assessment and support for those still on board.
