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Two cases of hantavirus which spreads human-to-human linked to ship, South Africa says

By Reuters Reuters
A boat beside cruise ship MV Hondius anchored off Cape Verde port, on the day sick passengers were evacuated by boat from the cruise ship, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, in this screengrab obtained from a video, May 5, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS
A boat beside cruise ship MV Hondius anchored off Cape Verde port, on the day sick passengers were evacuated by boat from the cruise ship, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, in this screengrab obtained from a video, May 5, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS Reuters TV via REUTERS

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has identified the Andes strain of hantavirus, which spreads human-to-human, in two people who came off a cruise ship hit by an outbreak of the disease, the health minister's presentation to parliament showed on Wednesday.

The ship, the MV Hondius, was preparing to travel from Cape Verde towards Europe on Wednesday after the Spanish government gave permission for it to dock in the Canary Islands.

Other strains of hantavirus are more commonly transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva.

(Reporting by Sfundo Parakozov;Editing by Tim Cocks and Andrew Heavens)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 12:09 AM.

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