Need to know
Three people have died and at least three others are ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak
10:43, 05 May 2026Updated 10:50, 05 May 2026
Need to know: suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship claims three lives with at least three more unwell
- Three people have died and at least three others are ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing through the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
- A British tourist is currently in intensive care in hospital in South Africa after the suspected outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. A British crew member also reportedly required urgent medical care for the virus.
- According to the South African health authority, the dead include a 70-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife, from the Netherlands. The UN’s agency said at least one case of hantavirus has been confirmed.
- Hantavirus infections, normally carried by rodents, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can be fatal. “Hantaviruses cause a range of diseases in humans ranging from mild, flu-like illness to severe respiratory illness or haemorrhagic disease,” Public Health England said.
- Infections are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, though the WHO notes that whilst rare, hantavirus can spread between people. Symptoms typically develop within one to eight weeks of exposure and can include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and respiratory problems.
- There is no specific treatment or cure but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive medical attention early.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Hantavirus: What is it and what has happened?
