Suspected Cases and Confirmed Infections

It reported one confirmed and five suspected cases of hantavirus, though Local officials later told the BBC that the 69-year-old UK national had the virus; Hantavirus is usually passed to humans from rodents via their urine or faeces. It can cause severe respiratory illness, and rarely, it can be transmitted between people.

Outbreak Aboard MV Hondius

The outbreak was reported aboard the MV Hondius ship, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde. According to an itinerary on its website, MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on 20 March and was expected to complete its journey on 4 May in Cape Verde. The ship is described as a 107.6m (353ft) polar cruise ship, with space for 170 passengers in 80 cabins, along with 57 crew members, 13 guides and one doctor.

Build Mohale. A spokesperson for South Africa’s health ministry, told the BBC there were about 150 tourists from various countries aboard the vessel; Before the WHO confirmation of three deaths, Mohale told the BBC that at least two people had died. He said the man. Aged 70, and the woman, aged 69, were a Dutch couple.

The health official said the man suddenly became ill, developing fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea; he died on arrival on the island of St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. The woman also became ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital.

Medical Evacuation and Public Health Response

The AFP news agency cited a source saying that the third fatality was still on board the ship. Speaking anonymously. The source said discussions were under way to decide whether two other sick passengers should be placed in isolation in hospital in Cape Verde, while the ship would then reportedly continue to Spain’s Canary Islands.

The WHO said it was helping to co-ordinate between member states and the ship’s operators for the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as a full public health risk assessment and support for those still on board. The UK Foreign Office told the BBC it was monitoring reports and ready to support British nationals.

According to the South African health ministry, the 69-year-old British man who became ill on the ship was taken to a private health facility in Johannesburg, where he tested positive for hantavirus. The WHO said it was facilitating coordination between national authorities and the ship’s operators to organize the medical evacuation of two passengers with symptoms.