A Brit is fighting for his life in hospital after a suspected outbreak of a rodenticide virus on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic.
Three people aboard the MV Hondius in which they were traveling have died. argentina to Cape Verde – but fears are growing that more people will become victims.
So far, one case of hantavirus has been confirmed and five others have been confirmed Investigation.
The first person to show symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger who died on the plane.
His body has been flown to the British territory of Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic.
Meanwhile, his 69-year-old wife also fell ill and was flown to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital.
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He was also accompanied by a 69-year-old British man who is being treated in intensive care.
The nationalities of those who died have not yet been confirmed by the authorities.
The unnamed source said discussions were underway to decide whether two other ill passengers should be kept in isolation in a hospital in Cape Verde, after which the ship would continue to the Canary Islands.
The World Health Organization has been informed and is now providing assistance.
“To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and five other cases are suspected,” a WHO statement said.
“Of the six people affected, three have died and one is now in intensive care in South Africa.”
MV Hondius is listed as a polar cruise ship. It is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, a Dutch-based tour company.
One of the cruises offers an itinerary departing from Ushuaia for Cape Verde, with stops in South Georgia and the islands of Saint Helena.
According to online ship-tracking sites, the MV Hondius was off the port of Praia, the Cape Verde capital, on Sunday.
The ship can accommodate approximately 170 passengers and has approximately 70 crew members.
Hantavirus refers to a type of virus spread by rodents, which is spread by the inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent litter.
Although rare, it can also be spread through rodent bites or scratches.
