What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

BBC:

The cruise ship hit by an outbreak of hantavirus is on track to dock in the Canary Islands by the weekend.

Three people confirmed to have the virus and five suspected cases have been linked to the ship – the MV Hondius.

The confirmed cases are a Dutch woman who died, a British passenger in intensive care in South Africa and a Swiss passenger who is being treated in a Zurich hospital.

A British man, 56, a Dutch crew member, 41, and a German national, 65, who are among the suspected cases have been medically evacuated from the ship to the Netherlands for treatment, officials said.

None have tested positive for hantavirus, but two have shown symptoms.

Two other British passengers are isolating at home after potential exposure to the virus.

They left the ship, which was travelling from Argentina across the Atlantic to Cape Verde, earlier in its journey and have not shown symptoms, the UK’s Health Security Agency said.