00:00The World Health Organization does not have good news when it comes to that Hantavirus outbreak,
00:04the one on a cruise ship that's still bobbing around the Atlantic Ocean. The WHO believes the
00:09outbreak was caused by a rare strain that can be passed between humans. Now, the majority of
00:14Hantavirus strains are transmitted via rodent droppings and can't be passed person to person,
00:19but that does not seem to be the case here. So why is that? No rodents were found on board,
00:25and as of Tuesday, three passengers died and seven more fell ill. Even more alarming,
00:30if it does, in fact, turn out to be this human-to-human strain, it carries with it a 40
00:35%
00:35mortality rate. This rare strain is referred to as the Andes virus and is only found in the
00:40mountains of Chile and Argentina. The cruise started its weeks-long voyage in Argentina on
00:46March 20th, but I should note, not specifically in an area where the strain is usually found,
00:51but still. Officials believe the original carrier of the virus could have been infected before boarding
00:56the cruise. Medical teams wearing full personal protective gear have reportedly boarded the ship
01:01to help with the suspected cases in two crew members, one British and one Dutch, and then test
01:06other passengers and crew who are showing symptoms of Hantavirus. The ship remained anchored off the
01:11African island nation of Cape Verde on Tuesday. The WHO said Spain granted the permission to dock in the
01:17area islands, but Spain's health ministry reportedly refuted the idea, saying that they're still waiting
01:22for data to be gathered from the boat before making the final decision as to whether or not
01:26to let the ship dock.
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