Three dead after suspected hantavirus outbreak on Netherlands-based cruise ship
Authorities and media reports said three other people became ill following the suspected outbreak.
Three people have died and three others became ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a Netherlands-based cruise ship, according to authorities and media reports.
The World Health Organization says hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents, although person-to-person transmission can occur in rare cases. The family of viruses can cause illnesses that mainly affect either the lungs or the kidneys.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infections generally begin with flu-like symptoms, including fever and fatigue, one to eight weeks after exposure. Respiratory symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs may emerge four to 10 days after those initial signs.
There is no specific therapy for hantavirus infection, according to the report. Treatment instead centers on supportive care, including rest and fluids.