Multiple outlets report that the World Health Organization is coordinating medical evacuations for people showing symptoms of suspected hantavirus aboard a cruise ship held in waters off West Africa, near Cape Verde. CBC, France 24, the Globe and Mail, and NBC say the ship carries nearly 150 passengers and that permission to dock has been denied, leaving passengers stranded. CBC and France 24 also report that medical teams initially focus on evacuating two symptomatic people, while other reporting adds that additional suspected cases have been identified aboard.

NBC and CBS describe the outbreak as serious, with reported deaths among passengers and ongoing WHO assessment. CBS and NBC say WHO believes human-to-human transmission may be possible, a point NBC highlights as part of the investigation, while medical evacuations proceed for the ill patients. NBC reports the ship later plans to continue to Spain’s Canary Islands after evacuations, and Vanguard reports WHO leadership says suspected cases are being taken to the Netherlands. Sources collectively describe evacuations as being carried out by medical teams and routed to treatment facilities in Europe, with passengers remaining on board pending removal of the symptomatic individuals.