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Suspected deadly hantavirus spreads on cruise ship, says WHO

More than 20 British nationals are stranded on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius luxury cruise ship off Cape Verde due to a suspected hantavirus outbreak.

Three people, a Dutch couple and a German national, have died, and at least three others are ill, including a 69-year-old British tourist in intensive care.

The World Health Organisation confirmed at least one case of hantavirus, prompting an investigation into the outbreak.

The ship has been denied docking permission in Cape Verde to protect public health, with authorities assessing the situation for disembarkation and medical screening.

Hantavirus is typically spread by rodents and has a low risk of human-to-human transmission, though the exact source of the infection on board remains under investigation.

In full More than 20 Britons trapped on…