Five cases of hantavirus infection on the MV Hondius liner have been confirmed

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified five cases of hantavirus infection on the MV Hondius cruise ship from Argentina. This was reported on May 7 by CNN.

"The World Health Organization has reported that five confirmed infections have been identified among people associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship, as health authorities in several countries rush to track and contain the outbreak," the publication says.

Since the ship left Argentina last month, three people have died on board — a couple from the Netherlands and a German citizen. The first case was a 70-year-old Dutch man who had a fever, headache and abdominal pain. He died on the ship on April 11.

There are currently 146 people on board from 23 countries who are following strict precautions. At the end of April, about 30 passengers disembarked on the island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, and several people in critical condition were evacuated to Europe. The remaining passengers must arrive in the Canary Islands.

The deadly Hantavirus is spreading in Europe after an outbreak on a liner. What you need to know

France 24 TV channel reported on May 3 that an outbreak of hantavirus had occurred on board the M/V Hondius cruise ship en route from Argentina to Cape Verde. Later, the WHO press service reported that the number of infected people had increased to eight.

The Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa, Aaron Motsoaledi, said on May 6 that virologists in South Africa had identified the hantavirus strain that killed three passengers on the liner. According to him, this is the only strain out of 38 known that can be transmitted between humans.