Three passengers have died and three other individuals are being treated amid a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship within the Atlantic Ocean, health officials said.<\/p>\n
The rodent-borne illness was confirmed in a single case and is suspected in five others, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an announcement Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n The WHO said detailed investigations aboard the MV Hondius ship, travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde, are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. The virus can be being sequenced.<\/p>\n Two of the individuals who died were identified as a Dutch couple, a person aged 70 and a lady aged 69.<\/p>\n The person died on arrival on the island of St. Helena. The lady, who also became sick on board, was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital, South African Health Ministry spokesperson Foster Mohale said in an announcement to Global News.<\/p>\n Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cIn our view, there is no such thing as a need for the general public to panic because only two patients from the cruise ship have been inside our borders. The World Health Organization is coordinating a multi-country response with all affected islands and countries to contain further spread of the disease,\u201d Mohale added.<\/p>\n \u201cOn 27 April, one other passenger became seriously sick and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated within the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified on this patient,\u201d Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch company that operates the cruise ship, said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOn 2 May, one other passenger on board died. The cause has not yet been established. This passenger was of German nationality.\u201d<\/p>\n As well as, two crew members are currently on board the ship with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe, the corporate said.<\/p>\n \u201cEach require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality. At the moment, no other individuals with symptoms have been identified,\u201d the corporate added.<\/p>\n Global News has reached out to Oceanwide Expeditions for further comment, but has not received a response.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s Department of Health said the ship had left Argentina around three weeks ago for a cruise that included visits to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other stops. It was resulting from ultimately head to Spain\u2019s Canary Islands on the opposite side of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cOceanwide Expeditions remains to be coping with a serious medical situation on board the m\/v Hondius, which is currently off the coast of Cape Verde,\u201d Oceanwide Expeditions said within the press release. \u201cThe vessel stays off the coast of Cape Verde. There are 149 people on board, representing 23 different nationalities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe disembarkation of passengers, medical evacuation and medical screening require permission from, and coordination with, the local health authorities. Local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation. The medical transfer of the 2 sick individuals on board has not yet taken place. Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Strict precautionary measures are in place on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. All passengers have been informed and are being supported, the corporate added.<\/p>\n Hantavirus is principally spread by contact with rodents or their urine, saliva or droppings, particularly when the fabric is disturbed and becomes airborne, posing a risk of inhalation, in keeping with the federal government of Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Individuals are typically exposed to hantavirus around their homes, cabins or sheds, especially when cleansing out enclosed spaces with little ventilation or exploring areas where there are mouse droppings.<\/p>\n Get each day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you may never miss the day’s top stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n People also can get the virus from infected mice, rats and other rodents.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of this, it’s best to avoid close contact with rodents in Canada and abroad,\u201d the Canadian government notes.<\/p>\n The WHO says that while it rarely happens, hantaviruses also can spread directly between people.<\/p>\n![\"Get](\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/wp-content\/themes\/shaw-globalnews\/images\/skyline\/national.jpg\")
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