Hantavirus Kills Three on Cruise Ship
Three people have died from a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The ship is now anchored off Praia in Cape Verde.
Two critically ill crew members are being flown to the Netherlands. Two air ambulances are being used for the evacuations.
Cape Verde declined to let the ship dock as a precaution. A British crew member also got sick during the outbreak.
He fell ill on April 27 after the ship left Saint Helena. He is now in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa with an improving condition.
Spain agreed to receive the ship. It is expected to reach the Canary Islands, Spain in three to four days.
The World Health Organization said human-to-human spread may have played a role. This is the first known hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
Key Terms 4
- Hantavirus A rare virus spread by rodents that can cause serious illness
- World Health Organization A United Nations body that monitors global health threats
- Intensive care A hospital unit for patients who are very seriously ill
- Saint Helena A remote British island in the South Atlantic Ocean