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How did the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak start?
A Dutch couple is suspected to have caught the virus during a visit to a landfill in Ushuaia, Argentina, as part of a bird-watching tour before they embarked on a cruise, according to information from two Argentine officials reported by the Associated Press.
On April 6, just five days after the cruise ship MV Hondius set sail from Argentina, a male passenger began experiencing symptoms including fever, headache, and mild diarrhea, as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). By April 11, his condition worsened to include respiratory issues, and he tragically passed away aboard the ship.
His body was removed from the vessel when it docked at Saint Helena, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, on April 24. The same day, his wife also left the ship, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms, according to the Associated Press.
As she traveled to Johannesburg on April 25, her condition worsened significantly, according to the WHO. She succumbed to the illness on April 26 upon reaching a local hospital.
The couple was reported to be 69 and 70 years old, respectively, according to The New York Times.
Who died in the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak?
In addition to the couple, a female passenger with “presentation of pneumonia” died on May 2, per the WHO. Prior to her death, she reported symptoms of fever and a general unwell on April 28.