WHO reports six confirmed hantavirus cases tied to Spain-bound cruise

May 8 (Reuters) - The World ‌Health Organization ​said ​on Friday that eight people had fallen ill, including three who died, in a hantavirus outbreak linked ‌to a cruise ship, with six confirmed cases and ⁠two probable cases.

Here are some details:

• Six of the cases have been ‌confirmed as Andes virus, ‌a type of hantavirus, through PCR testing, the WHO said.

• The ship had 147 passengers and crew on board ​when the outbreak was first reported on May 2, while 34 others had already left the vessel.

• Four patients ⁠remain hospitalized in South Africa, the Netherlands and Switzerland, while a suspected case sent ​to Germany tested negative.

• Separately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterated on Friday that the ​U.S. is closely monitoring the ‌situation with U.S. travelers on board the cruise ship.

• The CDC said it plans to evacuate ⁠American passengers aboard the ship on a U.S. government medical repatriation flight to Omaha, Nebraska.

• There are 17 U.S. citizens aboard the ⁠ship, according to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions.

• The ship left Cabo Verde ​on May 6 and was heading to Spain's Canary Islands, where passengers are expected to disembark.

• The WHO said the risk to the wider ‌global population is low, but the risk to passengers and crew on the ship is ‌moderate.

• The agency said the first case may have been infected ⁠before boarding, possibly during ‌travel in Argentina and ​Chile, with later spread likely occurring on the ship.

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim ‌Zahid)

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