Dhaka, May 10 -- A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a small cruise ship has alarmed travelers worldwide and triggered a coordinated international response to contain the spread of the disease.

The outbreak, involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, was first detected on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed Argentina's Ushuaia on April 1 with 147 people onboard.

As of May 8, a total of eight cases had been identified, including six laboratory-confirmed - all identified as the Andes strain, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Three individuals, a Dutch couple and a German national, have since died.

Hantavirus is typically transmitted through inhaling aerosolized rodent urine, feces, or saliva. However, ...