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Three die after virus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship - BBC
49 minutes agoTinshui YeungAFP via Getty ImagesThe MV Hondius was sailing from Argentina to Cape VerdeThree people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) has told the BBC. One case has been confirmed, with five suspected cases under investigation, it said. One British national aged 69 is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.Hantavirus is usually passed to humans from rodents via their urine or faeces. It can cause severe respiratory illness. Rarely, it can be transmitted between people.The UK Foreign Office told the BBC it was monitoring reports, and ready to support British nationals.The outbreak was reported aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for South Africa's health ministry, earlier told the BBC that at least two people had died. The MV Hondius is run by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.According to an itinerary on its website, MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on 20 March and was expected to complete its journey on 4 May in Cape Verde.It is described as a 107.6m (353ft) polar cruise ship, with space for 170 passengers in 80 cabins, along with 57 crew members, 13 guides and one doctor.South African authorities told the BBC the first person to show virus symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger who died on board. His body is now on the island of Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. His 69-year-old wife also became ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital. The husband and wife were a Dutch couple, AFP news agency reported citing a source close to the case. Speaking anonymously, the source told AFP the third fatality was still on board the ship, and discussions were under way to decide whether two other sick passengers should be placed in isolation in hospital in Cape Verde. The ship would then reportedly continue to Spain's Canary Islands.The WHO said it was helping co-ordinate between member states and the ship's operators for the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as a full public health risk assessment and support for those still on board.
Three people die from suspected virus outbreak on cruise ship - RTE
Updated / Sunday, 3 May 2026 20:46 The MV Hondius was stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, today Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, the WHO has said, including one confirmed case of hantavirus - an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. "To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases," the World Health Organization (WHO) said. "Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa." Earlier today, South Africa's health ministry said there had been an outbreak of a "severe acute respiratory illness", which had killed at least two people, with a third in intensive care in Johannesburg. The patient treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause haemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said. Six people on board the MV Hondius, pictured off Cape Verde, fell ill In its statement, the WHO said: "Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure (exposure to infected rodents' urine or faeces). "While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response." The first person to develop symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger. He died on board the ship and his body was on the island of Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic, spokesman Mr Mohale said. His 69-year-old wife also fell ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital, he said, adding that they were not yet able to confirm the victims' nationalities. A source close to the case speaking on condition of anonymity had said a Dutch couple were among the dead. The third fatality was still on board the ship. The fourth case, a 69-year-old Briton, was also evacuated to Johannesburg, where he was being treated in intensive care. The cruise ship was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of Africa (Pic: Bing Maps) Discussions were under way to decide whether two other sick passengers should be placed in isolation in hospital in Cape Verde, after which the ship would continue to Spain's Canary Islands, the anonymous source said. The WHO said it was "facilitating coordinatio...
Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship
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