Three people have died and at least three others have fallen ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
WHO confirmed on Sunday that at least one case of hantavirus had been identified and that investigation is under way.
One passenger is in intensive care in a South African hospital, the United Nations (UN) health agency said.
It added that it was working with authorities to evacuate two other passengers with symptoms from the vessel.
"Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations.
"Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing," WHO said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to the faeces or urine of infected rodents, according to the WHO.
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While rare, the virus can spread between people and can cause severe respiratory illness.
There is no specific treatment or cure, but WHO said early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.
Although WHO did not name the ship, South African media reported the outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius while it was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa.
MarineTraffic listed the vessel as a Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship, docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night.
South African media, quoting health department spokesperson Foster Mohale, said the first victim, an elderly man, died on the ship.
Mohale added that the man's wife later died in a South African hospitals
Hantavirus was in the news last year after Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus infection in New Mexico.
Hackman died at their home a week later.
Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship, WHO says
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