Khaberni - The World Health Organization announced on Sunday the death of three people on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, confirming the infection of one with the Hanta virus.
The World Health Organization confirmed to Agence France-Presse that "so far, one case of Hanta virus infection has been confirmed in the laboratory, and there are five other suspected cases."
The organization added, "Among the six infected individuals, three have died, while the sixth is currently in intensive care in South Africa."
The South African Department of Health had earlier announced on Sunday the death of two people following the outbreak of a "severe respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship, and a third person was transferred to intensive care at a hospital in Johannesburg.
The cases occurred on board the ship "MV Hondius," which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina bound for the Republic of Cape Verde.
Ministry spokesman Foster Mohale clarified to Agence France-Presse that the test result of the patient receiving treatment in Johannesburg confirmed his infection with the Hanta virus, which is among the virus family that causes hemorrhagic fever.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Hanta virus spreads via rodents, especially through contact with their urine, feces, and saliva.
The first to show symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger. He died on board the ship, and his body is currently on Saint Helena Island, a British territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean, according to Mohale.
The spokesperson added that the deceased's wife, who is 69 years old, also exhibited symptoms on board the ship. She was transported to South Africa where she died in a Johannesburg hospital. The authorities have not yet been able to determine the nationality of the two victims.
The third case involved a 69-year-old British man who was also evacuated to Johannesburg, where he is receiving treatment in intensive care.
The ship "MV Hondius" is listed as a polar expedition vessel on many travel agency websites. It is operated by the tourist company "Oceanwide Expeditions" based in the Netherlands.
One of its maritime journeys offers a route starting from Ushuaia to Cape Verde, with stops at South Georgia and Saint Helena islands.
According to several online ship tracking websites, the ship "MV Hondius" was near the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday.
The ship has a capacity of about 170 passengers, and is manned by a crew of about seventy people.
