"The World Health Organization has said it believes there may have been human-to-human transmission of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship where three passengers have died. The virus is usually spread from rodents, but the WHO said in this instance it could have been spread among 'really close contacts' onboard the MV Hondius vessel."
"Some people on the ship were couples, they were sharing rooms, so that's quite intimate contact. The WHO suspects that the first person to fall ill could have contracted the virus before boarding the ship."
"The organisation was told there were no rats on board, Van Kerkhove said, adding that the risk to the wider public from the disease was low and that hantavirus transmission between humans was uncommon."
The World Health Organization believes there may have been human-to-human transmission of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, where three passengers died. The virus typically spreads from rodents, but close contact among passengers may have facilitated transmission. Two deceased passengers were a married couple, with the wife confirmed to have the virus. Testing is ongoing for other symptomatic passengers and crew. The ship is currently anchored near Cape Verde, and disinfection measures are in place to mitigate risk.
Read at www.bbc.com
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