Cruise ship hantavirus cluster off Cabo Verde grows to seven cases, WHO says

The World Health Organization says the hantavirus cluster linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius off Cabo Verde now includes seven cases, three deaths and suspected person-to-person transmission. WHO officials now think the earliest infections likely happened before the cruise.

The WHO's outbreak notice, dated May 4, confirmed two laboratory cases and five suspected cases. It also said one passenger was critically ill and three others had mild symptoms.

Later WHO commentary, reported by El País, said the first affected passengers were probably infected before boarding, likely during outdoor activities in Argentina. Reuters and other reporting said WHO still believes some rare human-to-human transmission may have occurred between close contacts on board.

The ship remains offshore while authorities assess the patients and consider evacuation options. Reuters and Spanish-language reporting said two sick passengers may be moved for treatment, with Spain's Canary Islands among the possible destinations.

Hantaviruses are usually spread through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, and human-to-human transmission is considered rare. The latest update suggests investigators are now weighing both a pre-boarding exposure and limited transmission on the ship as they trace the outbreak.

The immediate question is whether more passengers or crew will test positive and where the sickest patients will be treated.