Eight cases of Hantavirus have been identified among passengers on a cruise ship, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization. The cases include three confirmed infections and five suspected ones, with three deaths reported.
Investigations, referenced in a document presented to South Africa’s parliament and reported by BBC News, indicate that the Andes strain is currently the only known variant capable of human-to-human transmission.Health authorities say the cases are linked to a common exposure event during the Atlantic voyage.
However, experts emphasize that human-to-human transmission remains extremely rare and typically requires very close contact.
Most hantavirus infections are still caused by exposure to infected rodents, and public health officials stress that the overall risk to the general population remains low.
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