A dangerous disease is on the cruise ship Hondius. It is the Hanta virus. The ship is in the Atlantic Ocean. It started in Argentina. Now it is near the islands of Cape Verde. Almost 150 people are on board. 3 passengers are dead. One German person died. A couple from the Netherlands died too.
The World Health Organization (WHO) studies the case. Often, small animals spread this virus. These are rats or mice. But there are no rats on the ship. The expert Maria Van Kerkhove thinks something else. People might have infected each other. This happens rarely with this virus. People need very close contact for this. The danger for people on land is small.
Two sick people leave the ship by plane. They fly to the Netherlands for medical help. All other passengers stay in their rooms. They cannot leave the ship in Cape Verde. The next stop of the ship is unknown. Maybe it goes to the Canary Islands. That is not certain yet. Doctors test all people on board for the virus.
