CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A Dutch-operated cruise ship carrying about 150 passengers is awaiting assistance off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard left three people dead and several others seriously ill, according to the World Health Organization and the vessel’s operator.
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was sailing through the Atlantic after a long polar itinerary from Argentina to Antarctica and remote South Atlantic islands when passengers began showing severe symptoms consistent with hantavirus infection. The company said local health authorities have boarded the vessel, but no disembarkation has been allowed pending further assessment.
The outbreak first came to light when a 70-year-old Dutch passenger developed fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea while the ship was near Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. He later died onboard. His body was transferred ashore for repatriation, according to South Africa’s Department of Health.
His 69-year-old wife was later evacuated to Johannesburg but died after collapsing at the airport. A British passenger was later taken off the ship at Ascension Island and tested positive for hantavirus. He remains in critical condition in intensive care in South Africa under isolation.
A third fatality has been reported onboard, though authorities have not released the individual’s identity. The body remains on the vessel. The World Health Organization said at least five additional suspected cases have been identified, though laboratory confirmation is still ongoing.
Oceanwide Expeditions said two crew members currently onboard also require urgent medical attention. The company described the situation as a “serious medical incident” but has not confirmed whether passengers have been placed under quarantine.
Health authorities from Cape Verde and international agencies are assessing the ship’s condition and coordinating possible medical evacuations. WHO said it is conducting a full public health risk assessment and supporting efforts to transfer the most critical patients to shore-based care.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially severe infection transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents or their waste. It can cause serious respiratory illness or hemorrhagic fever. According to WHO, human-to-human transmission is rare, and the overall risk to the public remains low.
Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge of WHO’s European office said there is no cause for public panic and no need for travel restrictions, although investigations and virus sequencing are ongoing.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of the deceased passengers were Dutch nationals and said it is exploring evacuation options for those still onboard.
South African health officials are conducting contact tracing after one of the deceased passengers died while attempting to board a flight home in Johannesburg. Authorities said efforts are underway to determine any potential exposure risks.
The Hondius was reportedly operating an “Atlantic Odyssey” voyage, a multi-week expedition cruise visiting remote locations across the South Atlantic, including Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands. The ship has a capacity of 170 passengers and typically carries more than 70 crew members.
While the exact source of the suspected outbreak remains unknown, previous hantavirus clusters have been recorded in southern South America, including a 2019 outbreak in Argentina that led to multiple deaths and strict quarantine measures.
Health authorities in South Africa and partner countries continue to coordinate response measures as the ship remains offshore awaiting clearance and medical evacuation decisions.
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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