Atlantic Ocean – A suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in the deaths of three people, including an elderly married couple, and sickened at least three others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Africa’s Department of Health.
The incident has prompted an ongoing investigation into the rare virus, which is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents.
Hantavirus Infections Confirmed on Cruise Ship
WHO confirmed that at least one case of hantavirus infection was identified, with one of the affected passengers being treated in intensive care in a South African hospital. The health agency is working with local authorities to evacuate two other passengers showing symptoms of the virus from the ship.
Hantavirus is a disease spread by the urine or feces of infected rodents, such as rats and mice, and can lead to serious respiratory illnesses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a potentially fatal lung infection. Although rare, WHO noted that hantavirus infections can sometimes spread between people.
Details of the Outbreak
The suspected outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship that departed from Argentina three weeks ago. The ship’s journey included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other locations before heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands. The vessel is currently docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa.
The first reported fatality was a 70-year-old man who died onboard the ship, and his body was removed in Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.
His wife collapsed at a South African airport while attempting to board a flight home to the Netherlands and died at a nearby hospital. A third patient, a British national, was transferred to a Johannesburg hospital after falling ill near Ascension Island, another remote Atlantic island.
Response and Investigation
Around 150 tourists and 70 crew members were onboard the MV Hondius at the time of the outbreak. South African health authorities are conducting contact tracing in Johannesburg to identify any individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
WHO has been working with national health authorities and the cruise ship’s operators to assess the public health risk and provide ongoing support to those still aboard the ship.
Lack of Specific Treatment for Hantavirus
While there is no specific cure for hantavirus infections, WHO emphasized that early medical attention can improve the chances of survival. The investigation into the source of the outbreak and further laboratory testing of the virus is ongoing, with authorities working to prevent further spread of the disease.
