Cruise Ship Trapped in the Atlantic Amid Hantavirus Outbreak

A luxury cruise ship near Cape Verde is quarantined following confirmed cases of the hantavirus. The World Health Organization reports two confirmed and five suspected cases, including three fatalities. While the risk to the public is low, authorities are working on safely disembarking passengers from various nationalities.

The World Health Organization has confirmed two cases of the deadly hantavirus aboard a luxury cruise ship currently held off the coast of Cape Verde, with an additional five cases suspected. This update is the most detailed account from the WHO since the outbreak began.

Currently, about 150 passengers, primarily from the UK, USA, and Spain, remain aboard the Hondius ship. The trip, which originally departed from Argentina, has seen three deaths: a Dutch couple and a German national. A critically ill British passenger was evacuated to South Africa for treatment.

The WHO assesses the risk of hantavirus, primarily spread by infected rodents, as low to the general public. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to screen and disembark passengers. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship's operator, is considering routes to Spain for disembarking.