Sick People on a Big Ship

May 3, 2026, 22:56
AfricaHealth

Introduction

Doctors and the World Health Organization (WHO) are looking at a virus on a ship called the MV Hondius. Three people died and other people are sick.

Main Body

The ship left Argentina on March 20. It has 170 passengers and 70 workers. A 70-year-old man died on the ship. His wife also got sick and died in South Africa. One more person died on the ship. One person has the hantavirus for sure. Five other people might have it. A man from Britain is very sick in a hospital in Johannesburg. The WHO is helping these sick people leave the ship. People get this virus from the waste of small animals like mice. Sometimes it moves from person to person, but this is rare. Doctors in South Africa are looking for other people who might be sick. The ship stopped in Cape Verde on May 3, 2026. The ship wants to go to the Canary Islands. Doctors must decide if the sick people can travel.

Conclusion

Three people died. One person is very sick. Health groups are trying to find where the virus came from.

Learning

πŸ” The 'Possession' Pattern

In the story, we see how to talk about things belonging to people. This is vital for A2 level.

The 'S' Rule When a person owns something, we add 's to their name.

  • Example: His wife's sickness β†’\rightarrow (The sickness of the wife).
  • Example: The ship's destination β†’\rightarrow (Where the ship is going).

πŸ•’ Simple Timeline Words

Notice how the text tells us when things happen. Use these simple markers to organize your sentences:

On + Date β†’\rightarrow On March 20 / On May 3 In + Place β†’\rightarrow In South Africa / In Johannesburg

πŸ’‘ Useful Word Pairs

Instead of complex words, use these simple opposites found in the text:

  • Sick ↔\leftrightarrow Healthy
  • Leave ↔\leftrightarrow Stop/Arrive
  • Rare ↔\leftrightarrow Common

Vocabulary Learning

ship
a large boat that travels on water
Example:The ship sailed across the ocean.
doctor
a person who treats illnesses
Example:The doctor checked the patient.
virus
a tiny germ that can make people sick
Example:The virus spread quickly.
passenger
a person who travels on a vehicle
Example:The passenger boarded the train.
worker
a person who does a job
Example:The worker fixed the machine.
sick
not feeling well
Example:She felt sick after the meal.
died
to stop living
Example:He died after the accident.
hospital
a place where sick people are treated
Example:She went to the hospital.
waste
things that are no longer needed
Example:The waste was thrown away.
animal
a living creature other than humans
Example:The animal ran in the field.
travel
to go from one place to another
Example:They will travel by car.
people
human beings
Example:People enjoy music.