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This is the moment passengers aboard the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship were reassured that the environment was "not infectious" following the first fatality.

Crew members on the Dutch vessel MV Hondius gathered those on board to break the news of a fellow traveller who had died in connection with the deadly outbreak. Three passengers have now lost their lives since the ship departed from Argentina and set sail across the Atlantic approximately one month ago.

"It is my sad duty to inform you that one of our passengers sadly passed away last night," the ship's captain announced following the first death, in a video that looks like it was captured on a mobile phone. "Tragic as it is, it was due to natural causes we believe and whatever issues, I am told by the doctor with were not infectious.

"So, the ship is safe when it comes to that. Of course it is a very, very sad circumstance that will have an effect on our operation."

"The ship is safe," a second crew member appears to state. "This gentleman unfortunately succumbed to natural causes. We'll do everything we can to continue in a safe and dignified way."

Around 150 people from 23 nations remain aboard the vessel, which is currently stranded near Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa. Health authorities are now conducting tests on passengers to determine how widely the virus has spread.

Three further passengers displaying hantavirus symptoms were evacuated from the ship to receive medical treatment in the Netherlands, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed today.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the overall risk to the general public remained low.

He added: "Monitoring and follow-up for passengers on board and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated."

Spanish authorities confirmed the vessel could proceed to the Canary Islands, though the region's president Fernando Clavijo condemned Madrid's decision.

He added: "I cannot allow [the MV Hondius] to enter the Canaries.

"This decision is not based on any technical criteria and nor have we been given enough information."

The UK Health Security Agency states that hantavirus comprises a collection of viruses transmitted by rodents including mice and rats.

Human-to-human transmission has occurred in exceptional circumstances with the Andes virus strain.

This particular strain has been confirmed aboard the cruise liner.

"People usually become infected by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva," UK health officials said.

"The virus can also enter the body through cuts, the eyes or very rarely, a rodent bite. For the strains where there is person to person transmission, it is through very close contact."