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World Health Organization on Thursday confirmed five cases of hantavirus linked to an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, while three additional cases remain under investigation.

According to the WHO, eight cases of severe respiratory illness, including three deaths, have been identified so far, with five infections confirmed as Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus.

The global health agency said it has informed authorities in 12 countries whose nationals disembarked from the vessel during its voyage near Saint Helena, a remote British territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Those countries include Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a media briefing in Geneva that the organisation currently expects the outbreak to remain "limited" if public health measures are implemented quickly and effectively. However, he cautioned that additional cases remain possible as authorities continue tracing passengers and close contacts across multiple countries.

The WHO also said approximately 2,500 hantavirus diagnostic kits are being shipped from laboratories in Argentina to five countries to support testing efforts.

Dutch cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said there are 149 people from 23 nationalities aboard the MV Hondius.

Meanwhile, Spain's Health Ministry said two suspected hantavirus patients evacuated from the cruise ship remain aboard a grounded air ambulance in the Canary Islands following a technical malfunction. The aircraft had departed from Cape Verde and was expected to refuel in Marrakesh before continuing to Amsterdam. However, Spanish media reports said Moroccan authorities did not approve the landing request.

"During the refuelling stop, the plane's doctor reported a failure in the patient's electrical support system," Spain's Health Ministry said in a statement.

Spain earlier confirmed it would receive the hantavirus-linked vessel in the Canary Islands in accordance with international law and humanitarian protocols.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is conducting an assessment to determine which individuals aboard require urgent evacuation in Cape Verde. Remaining passengers and crew members are expected to continue to the Canary Islands, with arrival anticipated within the next few days.

Hantavirus is a rodent-borne disease that spreads to humans through exposure to infected rats or mice. The WHO estimates that between 10,000 and 100,000 cases occur globally each year. Some strains cause mild illness, while others can lead to severe respiratory and kidney complications.

Health experts said the suspected strain linked to the outbreak is Andes hantavirus, the only known variant capable of limited human-to-human transmission through close contact. Symptoms can appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and often begin with fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and stomach-related issues. Severe infections may progress rapidly to breathing difficulties and lung complications.

There is currently no specific cure or vaccine for hantavirus infection. Treatment primarily focuses on supportive medical care, including oxygen therapy, fluids and ventilator support for critically ill patients. Early diagnosis and hospital treatment are considered key to improving survival outcomes.