Trump comments for first time on hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship deaths
President of United States Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
President of the United States Donald Trump commented for the first time on the situation related to hantavirus. A virus was found aboard a cruise ship after three passengers died, Fox News reports.
According to Trump, he has already been briefed on the situation.
"It's very much, we hope, under control," he said.
The President of the United States also said a detailed report is expected soon.
"It was the ship, and I think we're going to make a full report about it tomorrow. We have a lot of people, a lot of great people, who are studying it. It should be fine, we hope," Trump said.
What happened before
Cruise ship MV Hondius was forced to stop near the coast of Cape Verde due to a hantavirus outbreak that has already caused the deaths of at least three people.
According to media reports, one laboratory-confirmed case of infection has been recorded aboard a ship, while five more people are considered suspected cases.
The cruise began on March 20 in Argentina and was supposed to end on May 4. At the time of the incident, about 150 passengers were aboard the vessel.
First to fall ill and die was a 70-year-old citizen of the Netherlands. Later, his 69-year-old wife also died in a hospital in Johannesburg while evacuation was being prepared. The third victim, also a citizen of the Netherlands, remains aboard the ship.
It is known that five citizens of Ukraine are among the crew members.
After several days near Cape Verde, the liner is now heading toward Spain's Canary Islands. After arrival, all passengers and crew members will undergo medical examination.
