By ANNIE RISEMBERG, MISPER APAWU, ALEKSANDAR FURTULA and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press
The U.N. health agency says two patients with hantavirus and one suspected of infection were evacuated from a cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak. Two of the patients arrived at Amsterdam's airport Wednesday evening and were driven off in ambulances. The ship departed from Cape Verde and headed to Spain's Canary Islands. The World Health Organization says eight cases have been recorded, with five confirmed by lab tests. Three people have died. Two Argentine officials investigating the origins of the outbreak say the government's leading hypothesis is that a Dutch couple contracted the virus during a bird-watching outing before boarding.
By CHINEDU ASADU and ANNIE RISEMBERG Associated Press
Footage obtained by The Associated Press of a cruise ship in a rare-virus outbreak shows deserted decks and medical teams in protective gear as the vessel and its nearly 150 passengers and crew waited another day for help off West Africa. Officials say three passengers have died, and at least four people are sick. Authorities say the outbreak involves hantavirus, which usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings. Two cases are confirmed. Passengers are isolating in cabins. The vessel is in the Atlantic off Cape Verde. Officials say it plans to move to Spain's Canary Islands after medical evacuations. But Spanish officials said earlier Tuesday that they haven't made a decision.
A cruise ship with nearly 150 people is waiting for help off Cape Verde's coast in the Atlantic Ocean after three passengers died and three others were left seriously ill in a suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus. The World Health Organization and the ship's operator reported the deaths and illnesses. The MV Hondius was on a polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and several South Atlantic islands. A 70-year-old Dutch man was the first victim. His wife also died, after leaving the ship. The ship operator says the body of a third passenger who died is onboard. A British man tested positive and is critically ill in a South African hospital. A health official said the woman who died also tested positive, posthumously. Cape Verde said Monday it wasn't allowing the ship to dock.
A California producer of raw milk and cheese products is recalling some of its products under pressure from federal officials. Raw Farm said Thursday it is voluntarily recalling more than a half-dozen varieties of its cheddar cheese made from raw milk. Previously the company had refused repeated requests from the Food and Drug Administration to issue a recall. The FDA is conducting an inspection of the company's facilities after identifying multiple cases of E. coli food poisoning tied to the firm's products. Raw Farm said in a statement that FDA has not detected the bacteria in its products. The company said it issued the recall "under protest."
California health departments are fighting to contain measles outbreaks as cases rise and resources shrink. Investigating communicable diseases is time-intensive and expensive. Officials say teams have about 72 hours after a positive case to find exposed people and stop spread. Nurses trace contacts, order quarantine, or give post-exposure medicine. They then monitor people for 21 days. Experts say measles spreads fast and hangs in the air for hours. California has high vaccination rates overall, but unvaccinated pockets drive outbreaks. The outbreaks are occurring as local health departments also face major funding cuts and staffing losses.
