Three people have died in an outbreak of hantavirus suspected to be linked to an Atlantic cruise voyage, while a British tourist is being treated in a South African hospital.
South Africa’s health department confirmed that a British passenger tested positive for hantavirus after becoming ill while traveling between St. Helena and Ascension Island on a cruise ship.
The tourist was first taken to a hospital on Ascension Island before being transferred to a private medical facility in Sandton, South Africa, for specialist treatment.
Health officials also confirmed two prior deaths linked to the outbreak.
The first victim was a 70-year-old man who became ill during the ship’s voyage between Ushuaia and Saint Helena.
Authorities said he experienced fever, headache, stomach pain and diarrhea before dying soon after arriving on the island.
His 69-year-old wife, a Dutch national, later collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to return to the Netherlands. He died at a nearby medical facility.
The ship was reportedly headed from Argentina to Cape Verde and stopped at St. Helena and Ascension Island during the voyage.
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