Gambiaj.com – (CAPE TOWN, South Africa) – A suspected outbreak of Hantavirus aboard a cruise vessel in the Atlantic Ocean has left three people dead and several others seriously ill, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the South African Department of Health.
In a statement issued Sunday, WHO confirmed that at least one case of the rare but potentially fatal virus had been laboratory-confirmed, while investigations into the outbreak remain ongoing.
The agency said one patient is currently in intensive care in a hospital in Johannesburg, while efforts are underway to evacuate two additional symptomatic passengers from the vessel for urgent medical treatment.
The outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship that departed Argentina approximately three weeks ago. The voyage included stops in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands and was en route to the Canary Islands. As of Sunday night, the vessel was docked in Praia, according to maritime tracking data.
Health authorities reported that the first fatality was a 70-year-old man who died onboard the ship. His body was later removed when the vessel docked in Saint Helena. His wife subsequently collapsed at an airport in South Africa while attempting to return to the Netherlands and later died in the hospital.
A third patient, identified as a British national, fell ill near Ascension Island and was evacuated to South Africa, where they remain in critical condition.
Approximately 150 tourists were onboard the vessel at the time of the outbreak, along with an estimated 70 crew members. Authorities have initiated contact tracing efforts, particularly in Johannesburg, to identify any individuals who may have been exposed after infected passengers were transferred ashore.
Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily through contact with urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents such as rats and mice. While infections are rare, the virus can lead to severe respiratory complications, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which carries a high mortality rate if not treated promptly.
WHO noted that although human-to-human transmission is uncommon, it remains a possibility in certain cases. The agency is working with national authorities and the vessel’s operators to conduct a comprehensive public health risk assessment, including laboratory testing and viral sequencing.
There is currently no specific cure for hantavirus infection. However, health experts emphasize that early detection and supportive medical care significantly improve survival outcomes.
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