The virus usually spreads by contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents like rats and mice. It can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday reported a suspected outbreak of a hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
"To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases,” the global health agency said in a post on X.
"Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.”
The organization said an investigation was underway to find out what led to the health crisis aboard the ship.
