GENEVA, May 5 – The World Health Organization said it is investigating a cluster of hantavirus cases aboard a luxury cruise ship, with early indications suggesting limited human-to-human transmission among close contacts.
At least three fatalities have been reported, including a Dutch couple and a Germany national. A United Kingdom national has been evacuated and is receiving intensive care in South Africa. Three additional suspected cases remain onboard, including one patient with mild symptoms.
The vessel is currently anchored off Cape Verde and has not been permitted to disembark passengers as containment measures remain in place.
According to the WHO, the likely source of the outbreak originated before boarding, with the initial cases believed to have been infected in Argentina, potentially during outdoor activities such as wildlife observation.
Health officials say the working assumption is that the virus involved may be the Andes strain, one of the few known variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission. Such spread is rare and typically occurs only among individuals in very close contact, such as those sharing confined spaces.
“We believe transmission may have occurred among close contacts, including individuals sharing cabins,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, noting that intimate exposure increases risk.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids, and broader community spread remains unlikely. The WHO emphasised that the overall public health risk is low.
Efforts are now focused on evacuating the remaining symptomatic passengers to the Netherlands for treatment, after which the ship is expected to continue its journey to the Canary Islands.
Precautionary measures onboard include the use of full protective equipment by medical personnel and close contacts, with additional
