CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - An outbreak of the rare hantavirus has developed over several weeks aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. This Dutch-flagged ship has been the site of serious health concerns, resulting in at least three fatalities and multiple hospitalizations among passengers.

As of now, more than 140 passengers and crew members remain on board while the ship makes its way to Spain's Canary Islands. Health authorities are urgently tracing individuals who previously disembarked from the ship, as well as anyone who might have come into contact with affected passengers.

Hantavirus, a rodent-borne virus, generally poses a low risk to the wider public, according to the World Health Organization, since it cannot easily be transmitted from person to person. The outbreak timeline shows a troubling progression of illness amongst passengers aboard the cruise.

April 1: The MV Hondius departs from Ushuaia, Argentina, with its itinerary including stops at Antarctica and various remote islands in the South Atlantic.

April 6: A 70-year-old Dutch man falls ill, exhibiting fever, headache, and mild diarrhea. He and his wife had been sightseeing in Ushuaia before boarding the cruise.

April 11: The Dutch passenger succumbs to respiratory distress on board, although the cause of death remains undetermined initially.

April 15: New passengers join the cruise during a stop at Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, while the Dutch man's body remains aboard.

April 24: The ship reaches St. Helena, where the deceased man’s body is offloaded. Other passengers, including his wife, disembark as well.

April 25: The wife experiences illness symptoms and takes a flight from St. Helena to South Africa. It remains unclear how many other passengers from the MV Hondius are on that plane.

April 26: Tragically, the Dutch woman dies in South Africa after collapsing in an airport while attempting to transfer to another flight.

April 27: Another passenger, a British man, begins showing symptoms and is evacuated to Ascension Island before being transferred to a South African hospital with severe respiratory issues.

April 28: A German woman also falls sick on board as the ship navigates toward Cape Verde.

May 2: The German woman passes away, marking the third death in this outbreak. The same day, health authorities in South Africa confirm a positive hantavirus test for the British man in intensive care.

May 3: The World Health Organization announces it is actively investigating the outbreak as the cruise ship enters Cape Verde's waters.

May 4: A posthumous hantavirus test confirms the Dutch woman's infection after her death. Consequently, WHO categorizes the situation as an outbreak.

May 5: The MV Hondius faces a standoff with Cape Verde authorities regarding the evacuation of additional sick passengers. While health workers are dispatched to assist, no disembarkation is permitted.

May 6: Three ill individuals, including two crew members who test positive for hantavirus, are evacuated and flown to specialized hospitals in Europe. The ship then continues its journey to the Canary Islands after obtaining clearance.

May 7: Health officials across several countries, including Switzerland, Britain, and South Africa, initiate tracking of individuals who previously left the cruise and any potential contacts of the sick passengers.

The ongoing outbreak highlights critical challenges in managing health crises aboard vessels, particularly in international waters, where quick and decisive actions are essential.