Three people are dead and nearly 150 quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of West Africa.

The World Health Organization is investigating an outbreak of the rare but deadly hauntavirus on board.

William Brigham has more.

Umna, there is no cure or FDA-approved vaccine for haanta virus, which is normally spread by contact with

infected rodents.

But the WHO said today they believe there's evidence of a rare instance of human-to-human

transmission on that ship.

The agency has identified two confirmed and five suspected cases, including the three deaths.

One man is now in critical condition in an ICU in South Africa.

The WHO says the risk to the public remains low.

But for more on this outbreak, we are joined again by Dr. Selene Gounder.

She is editor-at-Large for public health at KFF Health News and

an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist. Dr. Gounder, so nice to have you back

on the program. Before we get to this particular outbreak, just tell us a little bit about what

is Honta virus and how do humans normally get infected by it?

William, Haunta virus is in fact a family of viruses that are carried by rodents.

So people typically get infected by breathing in dust that has been contaminated with mouse or rat droppings, urine or saliva.

And most infections are happening when somebody disturbs a rodent contaminated space. So it might be cleaning out a shed or sweeping in the

basement, opening a building that's been closed for a while. In the U.S., the severe form is called

Haunta virus cardiopulmonary syndrome. So cardio the heart, pulmonary, the lungs.

It starts with fever, headache, and muscle aches, but then can rapidly progress to severe breathing

problems and shock. And then depending on exactly which hanta virus, between 12 and 45 percent of

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