MV Hondius cruise ship to divert to Canary Islands following hantavirus deaths
Two critically ill crew members and a close contact are being transferred for urgent medical care as the World Health Organization investigates potential human-to-human transmission
The MV Hondius, a cruise vessel currently anchored off Praia in Cape Verde, is scheduled to resume its journey to Spain's Canary Islands within three to four days. This movement is contingent upon the completion of medical evacuations for two critically ill crew members and one close contact, who are being transported to the Netherlands for urgent treatment.
Spanish health authorities have confirmed that the Canary Islands were selected as the destination because they represent the closest location possessing the necessary medical capabilities to handle the situation, though the specific port of entry remains unspecified. Upon arrival, all remaining passengers and crew will undergo examination and care before being transferred to their respective countries.
The World Health Organization has indicated that once the evacuation phase is concluded, the vessel can continue its route. The Dutch operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that the ship intends to sail north to either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, a voyage estimated to take three days.
The outbreak has claimed three lives, including a Dutch couple and a British passenger currently in intensive care in Johannesburg. A Dutch woman who disembarked at Saint Helena to accompany her husband's body also died following deterioration during a flight to Johannesburg. The first fatality occurred on board, with the couple subsequently dying after disembarking.
Genetic sequencing by South African researchers is currently underway to identify the specific virus species, with the WHO's working assumption being that it is the Andes virus. While hantavirus is typically spread from infected rodents, no rats were found on board the MV Hondius. The organisation is consequently investigating the possibility of human-to-human transmission among close contacts, a phenomenon rare for the virus but associated with the Andes strain in South America.
The vessel departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 4 April carrying 88 passengers and 59 crew members representing 23 nationalities. Following the confirmation of three deaths on Saturday, Cape Verde authorities barred the ship from docking, leaving it anchored off the capital. The WHO representative in Cape Verde noted that the initial symptoms developed on 6 April, suggesting the Dutch couple may have been infected prior to boarding during their travels in South America.
