Suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship is no reason to ‘panic,’ WHO says – POLITICO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday the risk to the wider public "remains low" after a suspected outbreak of a rare and deadly virus killed three people and left three others ill aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic.

The U.N. health agency had previously confirmed one case of hantavirus — a rodent-borne disease that can cause life-threatening respiratory problems — aboard the Dutch cruise ship, and five more cases are suspected.

Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said one passenger was currently being treated in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two crew members on board required urgent medical care.