India, May 8 -- A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has triggered comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic after at least three passengers died and multiple others fell ill.

According to the World Health Organization, at least eight suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus have been identified among the nearly 150 people onboard.

The ship had been stranded off the coast of Cabo Verde while officials searched for a port willing to accept the vessel. It is now heading toward the Canary Islands, where authorities plan to conduct a full outbreak investigation and decontamination process.

Several infected passengers have already been medically evacuated, including one critically ill patient being treated ...