[Flash] Andes Hantavirus Strain Detected on Cruise Ship
South African health authorities have identified the Andes strain of hantavirus in samples from two passengers aboard a cruise ship experiencing an outbreak, the Associated Press reported.
The finding raises additional concerns among public health experts. The Andes strain is one of the few hantavirus types known to transmit between humans and has previously been found primarily in South America. Its appearance on an Atlantic cruise ship suggests the virus may have a wider geographic spread than previously understood.
The ship was previously denied docking in the Canary Islands due to the hantavirus outbreak. Multiple deaths have been reported, and health departments across several countries are closely monitoring the situation.