Confirmed Hantavirus case found, kills three cruise passengers in South Africa
發佈日期: 2026-05-04 21:02
TVB News
A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean killed three people, and infected at least three others, the World Health Organization and South Africa's Department of Health said Sunday.
The ship is currently sitting off the coast of Cape Verde as authorities assess the situation.
The World Health Organization confirms that at least one case of hantavirus has been verified on the Dutch-flagged vessel, the MV Hondius.
The cruise began its voyage three weeks ago in Argentina, travelling to Antarctica, Falkland Islands and other ports, with 150 tourists and 70 crew members on board.
The journey turned fatal for an elderly couple and one other individual as the ship crossed the Atlantic towards the Canary Islands.
The first victim was a 70-year-old man who died on the ship. The man's wife collapsed at an airport in South Africa trying to take a flight home to the Netherlands but later died at a nearby hospital. The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said the third victim's body was still on board in Cape Verde.
Three others are reportedly unwell, one of whom is in intensive care in a South African hospital. Authorities are working to evacuate the other two patients who are crew members.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted by rodents through contact with urine or faeces. Though rare, the WHO warns it can spread between people and can cause severe respiratory or kidney failure, with no known cure available.
The WHO and South African authorities are conducting contact tracing and sequencing the virus to understand the specific strain. They are also performing a full public health risk assessment for those still on board.
The ship's operator says it will work with authorities to see when the ship will be allowed to dock.
