Passengers and crew are stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after three people died and others were left ill, one seriously, following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on board a cruise ship.
Medical teams are racing to evacuate passengers showing symptoms of a potentially deadly infection after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, currently being held off the coast of Cape Verde, West Africa.
Around 150 people remain on board the vessel, which is carrying predominantly British, American, and Spanish passengers.
Authorities say three people have died and several others have fallen ill, prompting urgent containment measures as the ship waits offshore.
Hantavirus – known to cause severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, death – is typically transmitted when particles from rodent droppings or urine become airborne and are inhaled. It is not spread easily between humans.
