Two Irish passengers confirmed aboard virus-hit cruise ship where three have died

BREAKING

As well as the three fatalities, two of whom were Dutch nationals, a British man is being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg.

The reported outbreak happened on the MV Hondius cruise ship, as it was travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde.

Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator based in the Netherlands, has confirmed that it is managing “a serious medical situation”.

According to media reports, the cruise ship departed about three weeks ago with around 150 passengers and stopped in the Antarctic and other locations on ​its way to Cape Verde.

What is hantavirus and how is it treated?

The rodent-borne virus known as hantavirus can either mostly affect the lungs or kidneys, and there are no specific drugs to treat ⁠it.

Treatment for hantavirus focuses on supportive care, while in severe cases, it includes putting patients on ventilators.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus is spread mainly by rodents and are not from person-to-person.

People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva.

It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare, according to CDC.