Three deaths reported in hantavirus outbreak aboard MV Hondius
The World Health Organization continues to assess the overall global risk as low as authorities coordinate a response off Cabo Verde.
A hantavirus outbreak aboard MV Hondius led to three deaths and raised international concern, according to the report. The World Health Organization said a cluster of acute respiratory illnesses involving passengers on a cruise ship carrying 147 people was first flagged on May 2.
The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina, in early April and was anchored off Cabo Verde while authorities coordinated response efforts. WHO said affected passengers developed symptoms between April 6 and April 28. Illness began with fever and gastrointestinal distress, while severe cases progressed to pneumonia, respiratory failure and shock.
According to WHO, hantaviruses generally spread through infected rodents or contaminated environments. The agency said the Andes strain can, in rare cases, pass between people in close-contact settings. WHO continued to classify the overall global risk as low.
The account also said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorized the outbreak as a Level 3 emergency response, described as the agency’s lowest emergency alert level.
Shares of Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean fell as much as 1% overnight after declining between 2% and 3% during the regular trading session, according to the report.
