A suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the illness of at least three others, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Africa’s Department of Health on Sunday.
According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by WHO, investigations are ongoing, with one case of hantavirus already confirmed. Hantavirus, a globally distributed virus, spreads through contact with rodents or their excrement.
The United Nations health agency reported that one patient is in intensive care in a South African hospital, while efforts are underway to evacuate two other symptomatic passengers from the vessel.
WHO stated, “Detailed investigations, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological inquiries, are currently in progress.” Medical care and support are being extended to passengers and crew members, with virus sequencing procedures also ongoing.
The South African Department of Health specified that the outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which set sail from Argentina three weeks ago, embarking on a journey that included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and eventually, Spain’s Canary Islands on the opposite side of the Atlantic.
The vessel, identified by the MarineTraffic global shipping website as a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship, was located docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night.
The initial victim, a 70-year-old man who passed away on the ship, was transported from the British territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. Tragically, his wife collapsed at a South African airport while attempting to board a flight to the Netherlands and later succumbed to the illness at a nearby hospital.
Another patient, a British national, is currently under intensive care in a Johannesburg hospital after falling ill near Ascension Island in the Atlantic, following the ship’s departure from Saint Helena.
Approximately 150 tourists were onboard during the outbreak, with the ship typically accommodating around 70 crew members, as indicated by various online tour operators.
Concurrently, South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases is engaged in contact tracing efforts within the Johannesburg region to identify potential exposures to the infected passengers in South Africa.
Although hantavirus infections are uncommon, WHO warns that they can be transmitted among individuals, potentially resulting in severe respiratory complications. While there is no specific treatment or cure for hantavirus, seeking prompt medical attention can enhance survival prospects.