3 dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship

Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) has told the BBC.

One case has been confirmed, with five more suspected cases under investigation, it says, reports BBC.

One British national aged 69 is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The outbreak was reported aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.

Hantavirus infections are usually linked to environmental exposure, such as contact with urine or faeces from infected rodents, but in rare cases can spread between people, leading to severe respiratory illness.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

This includes "exposure to infected rodents’ urine or faeces".

In rare cases, WHO says the virus can also spread between people, and can lead to "severe respiratory illness".

It requires "careful patient monitoring, support and response", WHO says.