Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday AEST, one a confirmed case of hantavirus — an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents.The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde."To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases," the WHO told the Agence France-Presse news agency."Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa."Earlier on Monday, South Africa's health ministry told Agence France-Presse there had been an outbreak of a "severe acute respiratory illness", which had killed at least two people, with a third in intensive care in Johannesburg.The patient treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said.In its statement, the WHO said: "Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure (exposure to infected rodents' urine or faeces).""While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response."Humans can catch hantaviruses from contact with infected mice or rats, or from their droppings, or from being bitten or inhaling contaminated dust The third fatality was still on board the ship.Discussions were underway to decide whether two other sick passengers should be placed in isolation in a hospital in Cape Verde, after which the ship would continue to Spain's Canary Islands, the anonymous source said.The MV Hondius is listed as a polar cruise ship on the websites of several travel agencies