Hantavirus Outbreak Kills Three on Cruise Ship

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has resulted in three deaths and seven confirmed or suspected infections. The vessel is currently anchored off Praia, Cape Verde, where authorities have denied permission for passengers to disembark due to public health concerns.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that two cases of hantavirus infection have been laboratory-confirmed as the Andes strain, with five additional cases under investigation. Among those affected are Dutch, British, and German nationals. A 69-year-old British passenger is receiving intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. The infected individuals include an elderly married couple from the Netherlands aged 70 and 69.

The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on March 20 with around 150 passengers and a crew of 70 members. The ship was expected to complete its journey on May 4 but has been delayed due to the outbreak. Passengers represent 23 different nationalities, including Americans, British, Spanish, and Dutch.

The WHO stated that the risk to the wider public remains low and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions. The organization is facilitating coordination between member states and the ship's operators for medical evacuation, public health risk assessment, and further laboratory testing. Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to infected rodents but can also spread between people.

Cape Verde health authorities said they were monitoring the situation of the ship anchored off its coast and would not authorize its docking 'with the aim of protecting national public health.' The Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Dutch passengers had died, while South African officials reported a British passenger tested positive for hantavirus after being transferred to Johannesburg.

Oceanwide Expeditions stated it was working with Dutch authorities to organize the repatriation of two crew members and the body of one deceased individual. The cruise ship operator is awaiting authorization from Cape Verdean health authorities for the transfer of individuals requiring medical attention.

A passenger aboard the MV Hondius described fear and uncertainty as the vessel remains off the coast of Cape Verde. 'I am currently on board the m/v Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here,' the passenger said. 'We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines — we’re people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.'

Oceanwide Expeditions released a timeline of the incident, showing that a Dutch passenger died on April 11 and was later disembarked on St. Helena on April 24. On April 27, the passenger’s wife became ill during her return journey and later died. Another passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where the individual remains in intensive care.

A third passenger, who was German, died on May 2, though the cause has not yet been established. Two crew members on board — one British and one Dutch — are also experiencing acute respiratory symptoms and require urgent medical care. The company said it is working with local and international authorities, including the WHO, as it prepares for possible medical repatriation and next steps.

As a precaution, passengers aboard the Hondius have been instructed to remain inside their cabins whenever possible. Epidemiological investigations are underway to determine the source of the outbreak. Medical teams in Cape Verde are evaluating the patients and collecting additional specimens for testing.