Maseru, May 06 — The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is closely monitoring a cluster of severe illnesses linked to a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew, after several cases of a rare but serious infection were identified.
According to WHO, seven cases have so far been recorded, including two confirmed infections of Hantavirus. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths, while one patient remains in intensive care.
Health experts explain that hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings, and is not transmitted through casual everyday contact between people.
Symptoms associated with the illness include fever, nausea or diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, pneumonia-like complications.
Despite the seriousness of the cases, WHO has assessed the risk to the global public as low and has not recommended any travel restrictions at this stage.
International health teams are currently working across multiple countries to contain the situation by testing patients, tracing contacts, isolating suspected cases, and providing necessary medical care.
Authorities are also encouraging the public to take precautionary measures such as regular hand washing, avoiding contact with rodents or their waste, ensuring proper ventilation in enclosed spaces, and seeking medical attention early if respiratory symptoms develop.
Meanwhile, there have been no reported cases of hantavirus linked to this outbreak in Lesotho or South Africa.
WHO says it will continue to closely monitor the situation as investigations progress, while reassuring the public that most travel remains very low risk.
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