2026-05-04 16:57
publication
2026-05-04 16:57
All Polish citizens who are on a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic, where a case of hantavirus infection was confirmed, are feeling well, MFA spokesman Maciej Wewiór told PAP on Monday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Sunday the death of three passengers of a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. One case of hantavirus infection, which is transmitted by rodents, has been confirmed.
The announcement published by WHO on the X platform reported five suspected hantavirus infections and one confirmed case. Three people have died and one is in intensive care in South Africa. “Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory tests and epidemiological studies. Passengers and crew have been provided with medical care and support,” WHO said.
Maciej Wewiór, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on this information.
“We are monitoring the situation and are in constant contact with the relevant sanitary services. According to current information, all Polish citizens on the ship are feeling well. No one reported the need for medical or consular support,” Wewiór emphasized.
According to South African media cited by Sky News, the disease outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship during a cruise from Argentina to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa.
Sky News reported, citing the South African Ministry of Health, that the first person to develop symptoms of infection, including fever, headaches, abdominal pain and diarrhea, was a 70-year-old man who died on board. His 69-year-old wife, who also fell ill, later died in a hospital in South Africa.
Hantaviruses are dangerous to human health and life; are transmitted through contact with rodent feces, urine or saliva. They can cause severe respiratory diseases. In rare cases, viruses can also be transmitted between people. (PAP)
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