A rare but potentially deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic has sparked international health concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed eight cases of hantavirus on Thursday, including three deaths.
The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, a Dutch expedition cruise ship carrying more than 140 passengers and crew after a voyage to South America and Antarctica.
Health authorities in several countries are tracking passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was fully detected. So far, at least three passengers have died, several others have fallen ill, and contact monitoring is underway in more than a dozen countries.
Researchers in Argentina believe the infections may have originated during a bird-watching excursion in Ushuaia, near the southern tip of the country.
The first known death was reportedly that of a 70-year-old Dutch passenger who died on board on April 11. His wife later disembarked and traveled to South Africa, where she also died. A third victim, a German woman, died on May 2.
Authorities later confirmed hantavirus infection in a British passenger who was evacuated to South Africa and remains in intensive care. Two Indian crew members are also among the 149 people currently stranded on board the Dutch-flagged ship.
“Although this is a serious incident, WHO considers the risk to public health to be low.” He noted that given the incubation period, “more cases may be reported,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Stay tuned to News18 for the latest live updates on the hantavirus outbreak
