Hantavirus death toll hits five

Global health officials are monitoring returning passengers in the U.S., UK, and Europe after eight cases of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus were identified.

The outbreak, which originated during an expedition in Argentina, has left three passengers dead on the ship and two others fatally ill following disembarkation.

While the WHO maintains that the risk of a widespread pandemic is low due to limited human-to-human transmission, the long incubation period has complicated tracing efforts.

Evacuated patients are currently being treated in specialized isolation units in the Netherlands and Spain.