Following a cluster of serious respiratory infections reported on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has verified an epidemic of hantavirus infection aboard a cruise ship containing 147 passengers and crew.
Authorities have reported seven cases so far, including three deaths, five suspected infections, and two laboratory-confirmed cases.
Three patients have moderate symptoms and are under observation on the ship, currently docked off the coast of Cabo Verde, while one patient remains in serious condition in intensive care.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried mainly by rodents that can infect humans and cause serious illness.
Similar to lassa fever, rodents like mice and rats are the primary carriers of the virus and the primary source of human infection.
Additionally, humans are typically infected by direct contact with contaminated surfaces or by inhaling aerosolised particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Rarely, rodent bites might result in infection.
Non-specific flu-like symptoms, such as fever, exhaustion, headache, muscle pains, and occasionally gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, are usually the first signs of the illness.
According to the WHO, there is currently no specific antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine for hantavirus infection.
Deaths, confirmed cases
Following this, authorities have reported three deaths linked to the outbreak.
Case 1 involved a male adult who began experiencing symptoms on board on April 6 and passed away on April 11 without undergoing laboratory testing.
2, a close contact, deteriorated during a medical evacuation flight to South Africa and later tested positive for hantavirus before dying on 26 April.
Case 3, Authorities medically evacuated an adult male from Ascension Island, and he remains in intensive care in South Africa with a severe respiratory illness.
4, an adult female, died on 2 May after developing fever and general malaise on 28 April.
Additionally, three suspected cases remain under observation on board the vessel.
WHO Reacts
According to the World Health Organization, authorities have implemented measures such as evacuating critically ill patients, improving onboard sanitation, isolating symptomatic passengers, and monitoring symptoms among passengers and crew.
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