A suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in three deaths and multiple illnesses, health authorities confirmed Sunday. The World Health Organization (WHO) and South Africa’s Department of Health are investigating the cases, with at least one infection conclusively diagnosed so far.

The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise vessel that departed Argentina approximately three weeks ago. The ship’s itinerary included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and various locations en route to the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain. At the time of the outbreak, the ship was carrying about 150 tourists.

According to the South African health department, the first fatality was a 70-year-old man who died on board. His body was removed from the vessel in the British territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. His wife, who became ill following his death, collapsed while attempting to board a flight in South Africa to return to the Netherlands and later died at a hospital nearby.

Another patient, identified as a British national, developed symptoms near Ascension Island after the ship departed Saint Helena. This individual was evacuated to a hospital in Johannesburg, where they remain in intensive care. Health authorities are currently arranging the evacuation of two additional passengers exhibiting symptoms from the ship.

Hantavirus is a rare infection transmitted primarily through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents such as rats and mice. The virus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness that can be fatal if untreated. Although cases in humans remain uncommon worldwide, WHO acknowledges the potential for human-to-human transmission in certain circumstances.

WHO is actively engaged in ongoing epidemiological and laboratory investigations, including virus sequencing, to better understand the outbreak. The organization confirmed it is providing medical support to passengers and crew affected by the incident.

The MV Hondius was last reported docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa. The cruise, which began in Argentina and was set to end in Spain, was halted amid the outbreak as health officials coordinated response efforts.

The investigation into the source and spread of the virus aboard the vessel is continuing as global public health agencies work to contain the situation and prevent further infections.