Three people have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO reported one confirmed case and five suspected cases aboard the MV Hondius, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
A 69-year-old British national is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. Local officials said he had contracted the virus, while the UK Foreign Office said it was monitoring the reports and was ready to support British nationals.
Hantavirus is usually transmitted to humans through contact with rodent faeces, saliva or urine. It can cause severe respiratory illness and, in rare cases, can spread between people.
The MV Hondius is operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.
According to an itinerary published on the company’s website, the vessel departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on March 20 and completed its journey on May 4 in Cape Verde. It is currently anchored outside Praia, the country’s capital.
The ship is described as a 107.6-metre polar cruise vessel, with capacity for 170 passengers in 80 cabins, as well as 57 crew members, 13 guides and one doctor.
Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for South Africa’s health ministry, said about 150 tourists from various countries were aboard the vessel.
Before the WHO confirmed the three deaths, Mr Mohale said at least two people had died.
He identified two of the victims as a Dutch couple, a 70-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman.
Mr Mohale said the man suddenly became ill, developing fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. He died on arrival on St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.
The woman also became ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she later died at a hospital in Johannesburg.
Oceanwide Expeditions said the third person who died was also Dutch. The company said efforts were under way to repatriate the person’s body, along with a guest who was “closely associated” with them.
The company also confirmed that two crew members required urgent medical care. However, authorities in Cape Verde had not yet authorised them to disembark and go to hospital.
“Disembarkation and medical screening of all guests require co-ordination with local health authorities, and we are in close consultation with them,” Oceanwide Expeditions said.
