The WHO is carrying out an investigation into an extremely rare hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in three deaths aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Although the virus is normally transmitted from rodents to human beings, there is suspicion of rare human transmission between “close contacts” on the ship. The ship, whose cruise began from Argentina, is now stationed off Cape Verde Islands and all those aboard – numbering 149 – are placed under strict quarantine while some are being airlifted with respiratory ailments.