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submitted 20 hours ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) has told the BBC.

One case has been confirmed, with five suspected cases under investigation, it said. One British national aged 69 is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hantavirus is usually passed to humans from rodents via their urine or faeces. It can cause severe respiratory illness. Rarely, it can be transmitted between people.

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[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 hours ago

This is from mouse and rat shit in the food.

Enjoy your vacation! All you can eat!

[-] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 11 points 14 hours ago

Fyi hantavirus is what killed Gene Hackman's wife.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 49 points 19 hours ago

Cruise Ship and Hantavirus is a combo made in hell.

[-] GreenBeanMachine@lemmy.world 15 points 18 hours ago

That's true for any virus. But if I'm to believe that "Rarely, it can be transmitted between people.", it sounds like it's one of the better viruses to have in an enclosed environment. Just avoid rats and stay in your room.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 9 points 11 hours ago

Just the point that three people have died from an infection transferred by rats tells a horrible tale about the hygienic state of the ship. I don't think that you see rats as a passenger on a normal cruise ship. That several people got close enough to those rats to get infected is not a good sign.

[-] WaxRhetorical@lemmy.world 9 points 9 hours ago

I would assume the rodents got close enough to the food, rather

[-] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 5 points 16 hours ago

Not just rodents, but their feces, IIRC. Which are very small and might not be immediately noticed if not in the open.

[-] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 11 points 15 hours ago

What a clean ship it must be! Oceanwide Expeditions must be proud.

[-] silverneedle@lemmy.ca 20 points 17 hours ago

Just so people here know, it's unlikely that this will lead to a pandemic or wider outbreak.

[-] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 14 points 16 hours ago

And you jinxed it.

[-] finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

... god damn it. We need this shit airborne if we're to get rid of all the people!

[-] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

There goes my plans for a cruise of the Four Corners area.

[-] CobraChicken3000@lemmy.ca 1 points 18 hours ago

I'd rather take my chances with the sharks and hypothermia.

this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
186 points (100.0% liked)

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