Health authorities are racing to trace dozens of people who disembarked from a hantavirus-hit cruise ship on the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic.

The ship's operator said 29 passengers, of at least 12 different nationalities, left the MV Hondius on 24 April. The Dutch government gave a different figure of 40.

Among those who left the Dutch vessel at the island was a 69-year-old woman who later died in South Africa.

The Dutch government said a Swiss national who has since been diagnosed with hantavirus was also one of those who left the cruise at the British Overseas Territory.

Two other people died on board the ship vessel, which set sail from Argentina a month ago.