Three people have died and at least three others have fallen ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. The World Health Organization reported on Sunday that six individuals were affected in total.
The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, which was traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. While one case of the infection has been confirmed in a laboratory, five additional cases are suspected.
Among those affected, one person, a 69-year-old Briton, is reported to be in intensive care in South Africa. Hantavirus is a type of virus commonly spread by rodents that can cause acute respiratory illness and hemorrhagic fever. Although rare, it may spread between people.
An investigation into the incident is currently underway.