Here is a roundup of which countries have confirmed or probable cases of nationals infected by hantavirus after the outbreak on the cruise shipMV Hondius, according to the World Health Organization.
Among living patients, six cases have been confirmed and a seventh is listed as “probable”, according to the WHO, the UN health body, and certain national health authorities.
In addition, three people have died, with two of those confirmed as having hantavirus and one probable case, the WHO said.
Other suspected cases and potential close contacts of infected people are being investigated, according to health authorities.
Two Dutch people from the ship died from the virus and a third has been confirmed to have contracted it.
A Dutch couple who had travelled around South America before boarding the ship in Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1 were the first fatalities.
The husband, 70, showed symptoms on April 6 and died on April 11. His body was taken off the ship during its April 22-24 call at Saint Helena island in the south Atlantic.
No hantavirus test was carried out and he is considered a “probable case”, according to the WHO.
His 69-year-old wife also left the ship at Saint Helena, feeling unwell. Her health deteriorated during an April 25 flight to Johannesburg and she died in hospital a day later, with hantavirus confirmed on May 4.
The third Dutch case was the ship’s doctor, who reported symptoms on April 30. A test showed him positive for the Andes strain of the virus on May 6.
Source: Insider Paper
