"We are working with Spanish authorities who... have said they welcome the ship and will conduct a full epidemiological investigation, fully disinfect the ship and, of course, evaluate the risks to the passengers on board," WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove told reporters on Tuesday.
The announcement came shortly after the second case of hantavirus infection on board the MV Hondius cruise ship was confirmed. It concerns a person who had already died and was found to have been infected. Another person with a confirmed infection is in intensive care.
Several other individuals are suspected of having been infected with the virus. A total of three passengers have died, but not all have been confirmed to have hantavirus at this time. The WHO announced on Tuesday that it suspects that the virus on the ship has been transmitted between people.
One of the deceased is a German man who died on board this weekend. A Dutch couple in their 70s have also died: The man died on board on April 11, the woman disembarked on the island of St. Helena on April 24 and flew to South Africa, where she died.
The MV Hondius has been anchored off the Cape Verdean capital Praia for the past few days. No one has been allowed to leave the ship after the hantavirus alert.
Correction: In a previous version there was incorrect information about one of the deceased.
Facts: Hantavirus
Hantavirus infections are caused by around 35 closely related variants of hantavirus that have been reported worldwide.
Hantavirus infection is a zoonosis, that is, a disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
In Sweden, only the Puumala virus variant, which causes the disease bat fever, is found.
Each hantavirus has a specific rodent species as its host. Hantavirus does not normally cause disease in rodents, but they can carry the virus for a long time. Viruses are excreted in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents.
Depending on the type of hantavirus, people can have completely asymptomatic infections or very severe forms of hemorrhagic fever or acute pulmonary syndrome with high mortality.
Source: Public Health Agency of Sweden
