The World Health Organization says it suspects the rare human-to-human transmission took place between close people on a luxury cruise ship hit by seven confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases.
Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is not uncommon, and the United Nations health organization reiterated that the risk to the public is low – The disease is usually spread through contact with infected rats.
A Dutch couple and a German national have died, while a British national was removed from the ship and is in intensive care in South Africa, officials said. Two crew members require immediate medical attention, the operator of the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions, said. Another person on the flight with a suspected case has just reported a high fever.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said it was preparing the medical transfer of three people to the Netherlands from a ship currently sailing from Cape Verde. The island nation in the Atlantic off West Africa was meant to be its destination, but has not allowed the ship to put passengers ashore because of the outbreak.
