Two cases of hantavirus have been confirmed and five additional infections are suspected among passengers on a cruise ship currently stranded off Cape Verde, with three deaths already recorded, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO said it is also attempting to trace passengers who were on an April 25 flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, which was taken by one of the infected passengers who later died the following day.
In its update on 4 May 2026, the agency said a total of seven cases have been identified so far, including two confirmed infections and five suspected ones. The situation also includes three deaths, one critically ill patient, and three others showing mild symptoms.
The cruise ship, which departed from Ushuaia in Argentina and was heading toward Cape Verde off the West African coast, reportedly began recording illness cases between 6 and 28 April 2026.
The WHO said the symptoms observed include fever, gastrointestinal issues, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock, adding that investigations into the outbreak are still ongoing.
