South African health authorities have confirmed the Andes strain of hantavirus in two passengers linked to an outbreak on a cruise ship. The Department of Health said the Andes virus is carried by rodents and can, in some cases, spread from person to person.
Officials said test results arrived after the two passengers were removed from the vessel and flown to South Africa. One is a British man who is now in intensive care; the other was tested after she died in South Africa.
The outbreak has so far been linked to three passenger deaths aboard the ship, which is currently off the coast of Cape Verde. At least four other people have fallen ill. Three sick passengers remain on board, and authorities have said they plan to evacuate them.
