PRAIA, Cape Verde — Three passengers with suspected hantavirus infections have been evacuated from a cruise ship off Cape Verde, as international health authorities expand monitoring efforts linked to a deadly outbreak that has now triggered cases across multiple countries.
The vessel, the MV Hondius, remains at sea with nearly 150 passengers and crew on board, all of whom are reported to be asymptomatic and isolating in their cabins as it prepares to sail to Spain’s Canary Islands within days.
The evacuation includes two seriously ill patients and the ship’s doctor, who had previously been in critical condition but is now showing signs of improvement. European authorities confirmed that those evacuated will be transferred to specialized hospitals, while at least one additional passenger without symptoms is undergoing precautionary testing after close contact with a fatal case.
The World Health Organization said the outbreak has resulted in three deaths and at least eight suspected infections, including several laboratory-confirmed cases. One patient remains in intensive care in South Africa, while new infections linked to the voyage have been identified in Switzerland.
Health officials are investigating the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission, a rare occurrence associated with the Andes strain of hantavirus. While the virus is typically spread through contact with rodent droppings, close-contact transmission among passengers cannot be ruled out in this cluster.
The ship departed Argentina in early April and followed a remote route across the South Atlantic, including Antarctica and isolated islands where exposure to rodents may have occurred. Authorities believe some early infections may have happened before boarding, with additional transmission potentially occurring during the voyage.
Contact tracing is now underway across Europe and Africa, focusing on passengers who disembarked earlier in the यात्रा and individuals who may have been exposed during transit. In South Africa, officials are tracking dozens of potential contacts, while Switzerland is monitoring a confirmed case linked to the ship.
Despite the international spread, the WHO maintains that the overall public health risk remains low, noting that hantavirus transmission between people is uncommon and typically requires prolonged close contact.
Spain has agreed to receive the vessel in the Canary Islands under coordinated protocols with European and global health agencies, although some regional officials have raised concerns over potential risks.
Passengers remain confined to their cabins under strict isolation and sanitation measures as authorities continue to assess the outbreak, which has highlighted the challenges of managing infectious disease incidents in remote maritime settings.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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