Three Dead from Suspected Hantavirus Cases on Atlantic Cruise Ship, WHO Reports

Three passengers have died and at least three others have fallen ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization said. One case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, with five additional suspected cases, according to the WHO.

Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.

The WHO is facilitating coordination between member states and the ship's operators for the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers. Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations, the WHO stated. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew, with virus sequencing also in progress.

The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged polar cruise ship operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions, was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa when the outbreak occurred. 6-metre vessel hosts up to 170 passengers in 80 cabins, along with 57 crew members, 13 guides, and a doctor.

The ship departed from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on March 20, stopping at several islands in the Antarctic Peninsula before heading north.

The cruise, which costs about $18,000 per person, is popular with bird watchers. The vessel was docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night UK time, and is currently off the coast of Cape Verde. The first victim, a 70-year-old elderly man, displayed symptoms and died while at sea, with his remains transported to Saint Helena, according to South African Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale and other reports.

His 69-year-old wife fell ill and was airlifted to South Africa, where she later died in a Johannesburg hospital, Mohale said. A third fatality occurred, and a Dutch couple were among the dead, an anonymous source close to the case told AFP. One of those in intensive care is a 69-year-old British tourist, a man evacuated to a Johannesburg hospital for emergency treatment, according to South Africa's health department and media reports.

Authorities were deciding whether two other sick passengers should be placed in isolation in a hospital in Cape Verde, the BBC reported. The ship would continue to Spain’s Canary Islands, with an expected arrival in Cape Verde scheduled for May 4. The MV Hondius is carrying around 170 passengers and 70 crew, according to reports.

Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to the feces or urine of infected rodents, the WHO said. While rare, they can spread between people and lead to severe respiratory illness, with a fatality rate that can reach 40% in some strains. There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival.

The UK’s Foreign Office is closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and is in touch with the cruise company and local authorities, a spokesman said.

““Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.” — World Health Organization Foster Mohale, South Africa's health ministry spokesperson, confirmed at least two fatalities had occurred. The WHO stated it is providing assistance with coordination, encompassing medical evacuations, comprehensive public health risk assessments, and ongoing support for those remaining aboard. One affected individual is currently in intensive care in South Africa, the WHO said. The British patient tested positive for hantavirus and is being treated in a hospital in South Africa, according to the country's health department. Six people became ill on the MV Hondius, reports indicated. The outbreak happened on the MV Hondius cruise ship, media reports confirmed.”