Cape Verdean authorities have blocked a cruise ship from docking in the capital, Praia, after a suspected hantavirus outbreak left three passengers dead.

The MV Hondius, carrying around 150 people, remains offshore as health officials work to assess and contain the situation.

Zambia has recorded an accumulative total of 1,307 cholera cases, with the death toll now standing at 21.

However, the outbreak reported in August last year does not affect border areas with Namibia.

Of the 1,307 cases, 1,270 have successfully recovered.

Namibia is intensifying efforts to safeguard its internationally recognised foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zone following rising outbreaks in the Southern African region.

Health authorities say Namibia detected and treated 36 leprosy cases last year. 

Two more people have died of cholera in Zambia, while 21 remain admitted to hospital as the disease has continued to spread to other parts of the country.

This brings the total number of deaths to five since the disease broke out in August.