The WHO said at least one case of the rare viral infection had been confirmed, with one patient in intensive care in South Africa and two others awaiting possible medical evacuation from the vessel, which is currently stationed off Cape Verde.South Africa’s Department of Health said the first victim, a 70-year-old man, died onboard before his body was removed at Saint Helena.

His wife later collapsed at an airport in South Africa and died in hospital. A third victim remains onboard the ship.The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said local authorities in Cape Verde had inspected the vessel but had not authorized disembarkation. Two crew members with symptoms requiring urgent care remain onboard pending further decisions by health officials.

The ship departed Argentina around three weeks ago on a voyage that included stops in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands and was scheduled to end in Spain’s Canary Islands. South African officials said approximately 150 passengers were onboard, along with about 70 crew members.

Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents and can cause serious illnesses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory condition. While infections are rare, the WHO said limited human-to-human transmission is possible and investigations, including laboratory testing and epidemiological tracing, are ongoing.

A British national who fell ill after the ship left Ascension Island is currently being treated in Johannesburg. South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases has initiated contact tracing to assess potential exposure among individuals who may have come into contact with infected passengers.

The WHO said it is conducting a full public health risk assessment in coordination with national authorities and the ship’s operator, while medical care continues for those affected onboard.