Hantavirus cruise ship heads for Spain's Canary Islands as officials race to trace victims' contacts

"The journey from the archipelago nation off Africa's west coast to the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, is expected to take three and a half days, the Spanish Ministry of Health told CNN Wednesday. The ship's departure came soon after three people were evacuated from the vessel."

"While the rare disease is typically caused by contact with infected rodents' urine, faeces or saliva, the World Health Organization (WHO) said some human-to-human transmission may have occurred among people on board the vessel. And after sequencing the virus from some of those infected, health authorities confirmed this outbreak was caused by the Andes strain."

"Another passenger previously on board the MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus and is being treated at a Swiss hospital, Switzerland's health ministry said Wednesday. That takes the total tally to eight cases of hantavirus - three confirmed and five suspected. Three people have died in the suspected outbreak and several others have fallen ill."

The MV Hondius cruise ship is en route to Spain's Canary Islands following a hantavirus outbreak. Three patients were evacuated from the vessel, with two receiving treatment in Amsterdam and one landing in Gran Canaria. A fourth passenger tested positive for hantavirus at a Swiss hospital. The outbreak totals eight cases—three confirmed and five suspected—with three deaths reported. Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents, but the WHO confirmed human-to-human transmission occurred aboard the ship. Health authorities identified the outbreak as caused by the Andes strain. European and African authorities are tracing contacts of affected individuals.

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