Three people have died and others are sick amid an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the World Health Organization.
One case of the rodent-borne illness has been confirmed in a laboratory, while five additional cases are suspected. Of those six cases, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa, the agency said on Sunday.
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations,” WHO posted on social media. “Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the organization “is working closely with Member States and a ship’s operators in response to suspected cases of hantavirus detected on board a cruise liner.”
As of Monday, almost 150 people remain on board the ship, which is off the coast of the African island nation of Cape Verde. Two passengers are ill with acute respiratory symptoms – one mild and one severe.
“WHO is facilitating medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, conducting a full risk assessment and supporting affected people onboard,” Tedros posted on
Shipowner Oceanwide Expeditions said Monday morning that the medical transfer of the two ill persons on board had not yet happened. It said that the cruise ship may sail from Cape Verde to Las Palmas or Tenerife in the Canary Islands and try to dock there.
It added that “strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.”
Seventeen Americans are on board the cruise ship, according to Oceanwide Expeditions.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of potentially deadly viruses people often contract from rodents.
Hantaviruses can cause two syndromes: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).
HPS, which affects the lungs, is found mostly in the Western Hemisphere, including in the U.S., where it is most commonly spread by the deer mouse.
HFRS, which affects the kidneys, is a group of similar illnesses caused by hantaviruses mostly found in Europe and Asia.
How Is Hantavirus Transmitted to Humans?
Hantaviruses are spread mainly by rodents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva,” according to the CDC. “It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.”
Sometimes hantavirus can spread from person to person.
“While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response,” according to WHO.
What Are the Early Signs of Hantavirus?
HPS symptoms usually start to show 1-8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent, according to the CDC.
Symptoms include:
- fatigue
- fever
- muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips and back
HFRS symptoms usually start 1-2 weeks after exposure.
Symptoms include:
- intense headaches
- back and abdominal pain
- fever/chills
- nausea
- blurred vision
How Is Hantavirus Diagnosed?
Testing for hantavirus can be done, but it’s difficult to detect in a person who has been infected for less than 72 hours.