4 weeks ago
Suspected hantavirus outbreak connected cruise vessel leaves 3 dead, 147 quarantined
A terrifying hantavirus outbreak is suspected aboard nan MV Hondius cruise ship, pinch 3 individuals confirmed dormant and 147 group quarantined. Foreign analogous Jeff Paul delivers nan latest from London, detailing really Cape Verde officials person refused to let docking owed to wellness concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively investigating nan root of nan outbreak, arsenic nan illness tin origin deadly respiratory illness.
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Rare human-to-human transmission of nan hantavirus whitethorn person happened aboard a cruise vessel of astir 150 passengers, nan World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, aft 3 passengers died and astatine slightest 4 others were near sickened.
The U.N. wellness agency said it is still investigating nan outbreak aboard nan Dutch alloy MV Hondius arsenic it remains disconnected nan seashore of Cape Verde, emphasizing that human-to-human transmission is uncommon and that nan consequence to nan wider public was low.
"We do judge that location whitethorn beryllium immoderate human-to-human transmission that's happening among nan really adjacent contacts, nan hubby and wife, group who person shared cabins," Maria Van Kerkhove, nan head of pandemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention astatine nan WHO, told reporters successful Geneva.
"Some group connected nan vessel were couples, they were sharing rooms truthful that's rather friendly contact," Van Kerkhove said.
CRUISE SHIP OUTBREAK LEAVES 3 DEAD AS OFFICIALS DELAY MEDICAL EVACUATIONS AND PROBE HANTAVIRUS THREAT
The MV Hondius cruise vessel is anchored astatine a larboard successful Praia, Cape Verde, connected May 4, 2026. (Arilson Almeida/AP)
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday that 2 cases of hantavirus infection person been laboratory confirmed, while 5 further suspected cases are pending. Of nan 7 group affected, 3 person died and 1 is presently successful intensive attraction successful South Africa.
Humans are chiefly infected pinch hantavirus infection done interaction pinch nan urine, droppings aliases saliva of infected rodents, according to nan U.N. wellness agency, though constricted human-to-human transmission has been reported successful erstwhile outbreaks of nan Andes version of nan virus.
Health workers disembark from nan Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise vessel disconnected Cape Verde connected May 4, 2026, aft 3 passengers died and respective others fell earnestly sick successful a suspected hantavirus outbreak. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
The WHO said it had been told location were nary rats aboard nan cruise vessel, starring to nan moving presumption that nan deceased Dutch mates was infected successful Argentina earlier boarding.
NOROVIRUS SICKENS OVER 200 CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS ON MONTH-LONG VOYAGE
The alloy was on a weeks-long polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and respective isolated islands successful nan South Atlantic.
Authorities are moving to find whether nan cases are connected and erstwhile those requiring aesculapian attraction will beryllium allowed to disembark.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise vessel remains disconnected Cape Verde connected May 4, 2026, aft 3 passengers died and respective others fell earnestly sick successful a suspected hantavirus outbreak. (Qasem Elhato/AP)
The WHO said Monday that passengers were asked to enactment successful their cabins and "limit their consequence while disinfection and different measures are being taken."
Van Kerkhove told reporters that nan scheme for now is for nan vessel "to proceed connected to nan Canary Islands."
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"We’re moving pinch Spanish authorities, who will invited nan ship," Van Kerkhove said.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner, on pinch The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
