Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship

Three of six passengers who fell ill from suspected rodent-transmitted virus have died, and one is in intensive care, the WHO says.Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, with at least one confirmed to have suffered from Hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted to humans from rodents.Health authorities are now investigating a suspected outbreak of the virus on the MV Hondius, which is sailing from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi hospitalised as health deteriorateslist 2 of 3Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 41 people in 24-hourslist 3 of 3Rise in caesarean section births in Gaza brings danger and infection risksend of listIn a statement on Sunday, the World Health Organization said that one case had been confirmed and at least five other passengers were suspected of being infected.“Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa,” WHO said in a statement.“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.”WHO added that it was “facilitating coordination” between countries to evacuate the two other passengers showing symptoms of the infection.Hantavirus, a rare disease transmitted to humans through the droppings or urine of infected rodents, can be fatal in severe cases and cause hemorrhagic fever.Infected couple among casualtiesSouth Africa’s National Department of Health said earlier on Sunday that there had been an outbreak of a “severe acute respiratory illness”, which had killed at least two people, and that a third person was in intensive care in Johannesburg, according to the AFP news agency.The ministry’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, confirmed that the patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for Hantavirus.