Three persons have died after a suspected rare outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed one case, while five others are suspected.
"WHO is aware of and supporting a public health event involving a cruise vessel sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases. Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa," the international body said on X on Monday.
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A 69-year-old UK man, who tested positive, remains in intensive care in Johannesburg, according to local officials. Hantavirus is usually spread from rodents through urine or faeces and can cause severe respiratory illness. The ship was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde and is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, according to the BBC.
The report citing Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for South Africa's health ministry, said there were about 150 tourists from various countries aboard the vessel. Mohale also said an elderly Dutch couple, a man aged 70, and the woman, aged 69, were among the victims.
The health officials noted the male victim was showing signs of fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea and died on arrival at St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. The woman died in Johannesburg after evacuation. The WHO said t is coordinating between the countries and the ship operator to evacuate the sick passengers, assess public health risks and provide support for those on board the vessel.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses is a disease where people usually get infected through contact with rodents — rats and mice. This particularly happens due to contact with urine, droppings or saliva. According to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bites or scratches are rare causes.
Hantavirus Symptoms
According to the WHO, a suspected case of Hantavirus is declared when a person has a fever above 38.5°C and experiences sudden breathing problems needing oxygen. Scans can show widespread damage in both lungs within 72 hours of hospital admission, even in someone previously healthy. It can also result in sudden unexplained death, where an autopsy shows fluid in the lungs not caused by the heart, and no clear cause is found.
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The virus causes two serious illnesses. The first one is the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome that starts with fatigue, fever and muscle aches. This is followed by headache, dizziness, chills, and stomach problems. The second illness—Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome mainly affects the kidneys. It can later cause low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure.
According to the BBC, around 1,50,000 cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome occur each year, mainly in Europe and Asia. There is no specific treatment for hantavirus.
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