Tagged:

Three Dead as Virus Hits Cruise Ship, One Treated in South Africa

Three people have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. The ship was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde, according to the World Health Organisation. At least 150 tourists were on board the vessel. 

The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Dutch passengers had died but did not provide further details.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said a British national, one of the sick passengers, is in intensive care in Johannesburg. South African authorities said they were conducting contact tracing in the Johannesburg region to determine whether other people were exposed to the infected passengers.

Hantavirus is usually passed to humans from rodents via their faeces, saliva or urine. It can cause severe respiratory illness. Rarely, it can be transmitted between people. The MV Hondius is run by the tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.

Lokarina/Pixabay

(file photo).

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.