What is hantavirus suspected in three deaths on cruise ship? | Health News

The three people were on board a Netherlands-based cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. died Officials say the outbreak occurred during a suspected hantavirus outbreak. This virus is a rare infectious disease transmitted to humans by rodents.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that despite the deaths on the cruise ship MV Hondius, the risk posed by hantavirus to the broader population remains low.

So what is hantavirus, how does it spread, and should people be worried?

Who was infected with hantavirus on the MV Hondius?

The MV Hondius was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde. The ship, currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, is considering heading to Las Palmas or Tenerife to disembark, Reuters reported on Monday.

Three people on board were confirmed dead, but all are suspected to have been infected with hantavirus. Three other people are sick. Of these, only one British citizen was confirmed to have contracted the virus.

The WHO said in a statement on Sunday that one person was confirmed to have hantavirus and at least five other passengers were suspected of being infected.

“Three of the six infected people have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa,” the WHO said in a statement.

“A detailed investigation is underway, including further laboratory tests and epidemiological investigations. Passengers and crew are being provided medical care and assistance. Virus sequencing is also underway.”

The WHO added that it was “facilitating coordination” between countries to evacuate two other passengers who were showing symptoms.

Earlier on Sunday, South Africa’s National Department of Health reported an outbreak of “severe acute respiratory illness” that left at least two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, AFP reported.

Ministry spokesperson Foster Mohale confirmed that a patient being treated in Johannesburg had tested positive for hantavirus.

Mohale told reporters that authorities had not yet confirmed the nationality of the deceased. The person in intensive care is a 69-year-old British national, AFP news agency and British media reported.

The first person to develop symptoms was a 70-year-old man. He died on board the ship and his body was transferred to the British island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, a spokeswoman said.

The patient’s 69-year-old wife also became unwell and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital, he added.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a type of virus that causes two diseases. One is known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and primarily affects the lungs. The other is hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which attacks the kidneys.

The former has received the most attention as it has a mortality rate of approximately 40%.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mortality rate for the second type ranges from 1 percent to 15 percent of patients.

Officials have not confirmed which of the two illnesses was spread on the cruise ship, but it is believed to be pulmonary hantavirus, international media reported.

The virus is most commonly spread by infected rodents and can be found in the rodent’s urine, saliva, or feces.

When these substances dry and become airborne, people can become infected by breathing in the contaminated particles.

According to the WHO, hantaviruses are rare but can be transmitted directly between humans.

According to the Lancet medical journal, the virus’ name comes from the Hantan River area in South Korea, where it was first detected in the 1970s.

Research shows that hantaviruses have been around for centuries, with outbreaks recorded in Asia and Europe.

In the early 1990s, a previously unknown group of hantaviruses emerged in the southwestern United States as a cause of an acute respiratory illness now known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The CDC began tracking the virus after an outbreak occurred in 1993 in the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.

Where are hantaviruses commonly found?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is most common in North and South America.

According to the Canadian government, there are approximately 200 cases of hantavirus lung disease each year worldwide.

Concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in New Mexico in 2025, according to autopsy results.

In the Eastern Hemisphere, hemorrhagic fever and renal failure associated with HFRS are more commonly reported.

What symptoms do you have?

According to the CDC, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome usually begins with flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and fever between 1 and 8 weeks after exposure.

After 4 to 10 days, a cough, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs appear.

Diagnosis within 72 hours of infection is difficult, and symptoms can easily be mistaken for influenza, according to the CDC.

HFRS usually develops within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure.

How is hantavirus treated and prevented?

There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection, so treatment focuses on supportive care such as rest and hydration. For hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, patients may require breathing support, such as a ventilator.

Experts said that deterring and removing rodents from areas with humans can minimize exposure to hantavirus. Do not vacuum or sweep dry feces as this can aerosolize the virus.

How dangerous is hantavirus to the general public?

The WHO said hantavirus poses a low risk to the broader population.

“The risk to the broader population remains low. There is no need for panic or travel restrictions,” WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans-Henry P. Kluge said in a statement.