Trapped cruise ship passenger shares update on cleanliness of ship amid deadly hantavirus outbreak
The ship originally departed from Argentina on April 1. The first illness and death occurred on April 11, and the ship reached Saint Helena on April 22 with the first victim onboard.
Hantaviruses include a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents that can cause severe respiratory or renal diseases in humans.
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There have now been a total of seven cases reported (two confirmed and five suspected), and three deaths among passengers, the World Health Organization confirmed. Two crew members are currently ill and one passenger was evacuated to intensive care in South Africa, according to reports.
A 3D illustration shows the structure of hantavirus, an RNA virus transmitted to humans through rodent excreta that can cause severe illnesses including hemorrhagic fever, renal disease and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. (iStock)
WHO said the agency is still investigating the outbreak as the ship remains off the coast of Cape Verde, noting that human-to-human transmission is uncommon and that there is not a high risk to the wider public.
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“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that’s happening among the really close contacts, the husband and wife, people who have shared cabins,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva.
Fox News Digital reached out to the cruise ship company requesting comment.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/trapped-cruise-ship-passenger-shares-update-cleanliness-ship-amid-deadly-hantavirus-outbreak