Hantavirus Outbreak Strands Cruise Ship

The Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, currently stranded off Cape Verde, is grappling with a hantavirus outbreak that has left three dead and eight confirmed or suspected cases among passengers and crew. The ship, which had been billed as an Atlantic odyssey to remote islands, is now en route to Spain's Canary Islands after being anchored for four days near the West African archipelago.

The outbreak was first reported on April 11 when a Dutch passenger died onboard. His body remained on the ship until it reached St Helena on April 24. The man’s wife, who accompanied her husband's repatriation to South Africa, later fell ill and died upon arrival at Johannesburg hospital. On May 2, another passenger of German nationality also passed away.

According to Reuters, passengers have reported moods swinging between fear and boredom as they remain confined to their cabins under isolation measures, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring. Martin Kriz, a Swedish doctor aboard the Hondius, described the conditions in the 4-person cabins as cramped but manageable. Passenger Kasem Hato told Reuters that morale on the ship remains high despite the uncertainty.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed eight cases of hantavirus—three confirmed and five suspected—in people who were on the ship, as reported by BBC. The virus typically spreads from rodents but may have passed between humans in close contact. Testing to confirm other potential cases is ongoing.

The MV Hondius left Cape Verde late Wednesday after three individuals—two sick crew members and one person who had been in contact with a confirmed case—were evacuated, as reported by Al Jazeera. The ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, has advised passengers to follow strict precautionary measures. Upon arrival in Tenerife, all non-Spanish citizens will be repatriated to their home countries if they are fit to travel.