Hantavirus Kills Three in Suspected Cruise Ship Outbreak

The rodent-borne hantavirus is suspected in an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean in which three passengers have died within three weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said one case of hantavirus has been confirmed and that there are five suspected cases, two of them fatal. Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the Hondius expedition ship, said one passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa; two crew members aboard the vessel also have respiratory symptoms.

There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.