The World Health Organization says there might have been a rare human-to-human transmission of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship where three passengers have died.
The virus is mostly spread from rodents, but the WHO mentioned in this instance that it could have spread among really close contacts aboard the MV Hondius vessel.
Now, some experts are speaking about how it might soon turn into the next pandemic despite transmission rates being low. But the fact that human-to-human contact is giving rise to more cases is seriously alarming, another expert mentioned.
The virus has already spread to Europe, and authorities in the country are currently on high alert after this.
Two crew members are due to be medically evacuated by plane to the Netherlands after showing onng acute signs of respiratory illness, as per the ship's operator.
MV Hondius first set sail from Argentina on its journey across the Atlantic Ocean nearly one month ago. It's right now anchored near Cape Verde, which is off of Africa's west coast.