Three people have been confirmed dead, while a 69-year-old British national is under intensive care, following the suspected hantavirus on a cruise ship, which was en route from Argentina to Cape Verde.
According to South African authorities, the first person to develop symptoms was a 70-year-old Dutch national, who died while still on the ship. His 69-year-old wife also fell ill while on the ship and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died at a hospital in Johannesburg.
Additionally, two members of the crew are presenting respiratory symptoms, and discussions are ongoing on whether to place them in isolation at a hospital in Cape Verde.
Hantavirus is a virus carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Although rare, it can also be transmitted through rodent bites or scratches.
The virus causes two severe illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which starts with fatigue, muscle aches, and fever, followed by headaches, dizziness, and abdominal pain. The second is Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which is more severe and majorly affects the kidneys.
Symptoms include low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure. However, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends supportive treatment, which includes oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, antiviral medications, and even dialysis.
