The virus often spreads by contact with the urine or feces of contaminated rodents like rats and mice. It may well trigger a extreme and typically lethal lung an infection.
The World Well being Group (WHO) on Sunday reported a suspected outbreak of a hantavirus an infection on a cruise ship within the Atlantic Ocean.
“So far, one case of hantavirus an infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are 5 further suspected instances,” the worldwide well being company stated in a put up on X.
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“Of the six affected people, three have died and one is at present in intensive care in South Africa.”
The group stated an investigation was underway to search out out what led to the well being disaster aboard the ship.
A Dutch International Ministry spokesperson confirmed to the Reuters information company that two Dutch passengers had died, however gave no additional particulars.
What can we learn about hantavirus an infection?
Hantavirus is discovered all through the world.
It often spreads by contact with the urine or feces of contaminated rodents like rats and mice.
The virus may cause a extreme and typically lethal lung an infection known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, in line with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Whereas uncommon, the WHO stated hantavirus infections might be unfold between folks.
There is no such thing as a particular therapy or remedy for hantavirus infections, however early medical consideration can enhance the prospect of survival.
South Africa conducting contact tracing
The South African well being division stated the outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Round 150 vacationers had been onboard the vessel, it added.
The vessel had left Argentina round three weeks in the past for a cruise that included visits to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and different stops on the way in which to Spain’s Canary Islands on the opposite aspect of the Atlantic.
South African authorities stated they had been conducting contact tracing within the Johannesburg area to establish if different folks had been uncovered to the contaminated passengers in South Africa.
Edited by: Rana Taha
