A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has infected eight people with the Andes virus. Three individuals have died. The World Health Organization confirms laboratory results for the infections. The virus typically spreads from rodents. The origin of this outbreak remains unknown. Public health risk is assessed as moderate for ship passengers and low globally.

One passenger has tested positive for Andes virus, a rare type of hantavirus, while another is showing mild symptoms, health officials say.

A comparative genomic analysis of five people infected aboard the polar cruise ship MV Hondius has confirmed that the hantavirus spread from passenger to passenger during the…