Three people have died following a suspected Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from Argentina to Cape Verde.
THREE LIVES LOST IN SUSPECTED HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK
World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there has been three deaths on the cruise ship that was travelling across the Atlantic Ocean from Argentina to Cape Verde. According to the organisation, there was a total of seven cases, two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases of the virus. Aside from the three deaths, there is one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms.
The ship is carrying 147 people – 88 passengers and 59 crew members. The ship left from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April travelling across the South Atlantic, with multiple stops in remote and ecologically diverse regions, including mainland Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, and Ascension Island.
The illness occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026. The symptoms were fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock.
The situation on the ship is reportedly being handled by international response including medical evacuation, isolation and more.
ONE DEATH OCCURRED IN JOHANNESBURG
As per the WHO, an adult female, who was in close contact of the first case, went ashore at Saint Helena on 24 April 2026 with gastrointestinal symptoms. Her health began deteriorating during her flight to Johannesburg, and she died upon arrival at the emergency department. This was confirmed to be a case of hantavirus, according to PCR.
Contact tracing for passengers on the flight has reportedly been initiated. The first case was:
“An adult male developed symptoms of fever, headache, and mild diarrhoea on 6 April 2026 while on board the ship. By 11 April, the case developed respiratory distress and died on board on the same day,” according to the WHO.
The third case is an adult male, who is currently hospitalised in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The fourth case was an adult female, who presented pneumonia. She died on 2 May.
Take a look at the update below.
