Three Dead from Hantavirus on Cruise Ship, WHO Reports

Kathmandu. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three people have died due to 'Hantavirus' infection on a cruise ship traveling in the Atlantic Ocean.

The incident occurred on a cruise ship named 'MV Hondius' traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde.

According to information provided by the World Health Organization, so far, one person has been confirmed to be infected with Hantavirus in the laboratory, while five more are suspected of being infected. Out of a total of six affected people, three have died, and one is undergoing treatment in a serious condition at a hospital in South Africa.

According to the Ministry of Health of South Africa, this incident appeared as a 'severe acute respiratory illness', which took the lives of at least two people and left one in a serious condition in Johannesburg.

According to the World Health Organization, Hantavirus confirmed in the infected is usually transmitted to humans through contact with the urine or feces of mice or rodent animals. The organization has mentioned the possibility of human-to-human transmission sometimes, stating that it can cause severe respiratory complications.

According to preliminary details, symptoms first appeared in a 70-year-old male passenger on the ship, who died on the ship itself. His 69-year-old wife was later taken to South Africa, where she also died.

The third deceased has been identified as a 69-year-old British citizen, who is currently undergoing treatment in a serious condition in Johannesburg.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus informed through social media that medical rescue, risk assessment, and emergency response for the affected passengers are ongoing. He stated that only rapid and coordinated action can control health risks.

Following this incident, discussions are ongoing between the ship's operators and the concerned countries regarding further treatment, isolation, and future travel plans.