Suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard MV Hondius leaves three dead, WHO investigates five cases
The World Health Organization has confirmed one case and is probing five others on the vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, while two crew members remain on board pending local clearance.
Three fatalities have been recorded following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, a polar cruise ship currently anchored off Cape Verde. The World Health Organization has officially confirmed one case of infection and is actively investigating five other suspected cases among the vessel's occupants.
The deceased include two Dutch nationals who succumbed to the illness either on board or upon arrival at St Helena, with a third Dutch national dying in Johannesburg, South Africa. A UK national aged 69 is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, where local officials have confirmed he carries the virus.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 20 March and was recorded as anchored off Cape Verde on 4 May. It carried approximately 150 tourists and 57 crew members, presenting a complex logistical challenge for health authorities managing the potential spread of the disease.
Significant operational hurdles remain as two crew members require urgent medical attention but cannot disembark without specific authorisation from Cape Verde authorities. Oceanwide Expeditions stated that disembarkation and medical screening require coordination with local health officials, a process that has currently stalled the transfer of the affected staff to hospital facilities.
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles has highlighted the extended incubation period for hantavirus, which can range from one to eight weeks. This timeline raises the possibility of further cases emerging in the coming days or weeks, complicating the immediate response efforts.
The UK Foreign Office is monitoring the developing situation and has indicated it stands ready to support British nationals. Meanwhile, the nature of the outbreak, typically transmitted from rodents via faeces, saliva, or urine, continues to be assessed against the backdrop of the ship's itinerary and passenger demographics.
