Evacuations Underway as Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak Affects 150 Passengers on Luxury Cruise Ship Off Cape Verde
Medics are currently engaged in the evacuation of two individuals exhibiting symptoms of hantavirus from a luxury cruise ship off the coast of West Africa. The vessel, which primarily carries British, American, and Spanish passengers, is under scrutiny following a suspected outbreak that has resulted in multiple illnesses and fatalities.
Approximately 150 passengers remain aboard the ship after the deaths of three individuals: a Dutch couple and a German national. Authorities have reported that one British passenger who disembarked is receiving treatment in South Africa.
The Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is actively involved in managing the outbreak. According to their findings, hantavirus has been confirmed in one symptomatic patient. A source familiar with the situation indicated that the Dutch woman who passed away also tested positive for the virus.
RIVM officials have stated that it is still uncertain whether other symptomatic individuals are infected or if the additional fatalities were caused by hantavirus. This virus, which can lead to severe respiratory illness, is typically transmitted through airborne particles from rodent droppings or urine, although human-to-human transmission is rare.
Currently, there are no specific antiviral treatments for hantavirus. Medical care focuses on supportive measures, which may include ventilatory support for severe cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk to the general public as low, advising against panic or travel restrictions. However, authorities in Cape Verde have denied the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius permission to dock as a precautionary measure.
The WHO has reported a total of seven hantavirus cases aboard the cruise ship, including two confirmed and five suspected cases.
Passenger Reactions and Precautionary Measures
In a heartfelt Instagram video, Jake Rosmarin, a U.S. travel blogger, expressed the emotional toll of the situation, stating, “We’re not just headlines: we’re people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.” He emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak as a significant concern.
In response to the situation, Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the cruise ship, has instructed all passengers to remain in their cabins to mitigate the potential spread of the virus. While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, the incubation period can extend for weeks, meaning some individuals may not yet exhibit symptoms.
The company is also working to arrange the repatriation of two crew members showing symptoms, one British and one Dutch, along with the body of the deceased German national and another guest closely associated with the deceased who is asymptomatic.
Oceanwide Expeditions is exploring the possibility of screening passengers and allowing them to disembark on the islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife. However, Spanish authorities have indicated that they have not received a formal request for the ship to dock.
Voyage Details and Timeline
The MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in March, embarking on a voyage marketed as an Antarctic nature expedition. Berth prices for the journey ranged from €14,000 to €22,000 (approximately $16,000 to $25,000). The ship’s itinerary included stops at various locations, including mainland Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St Helena, and Ascension, before arriving in Cape Verdean waters on May 3.
South Africa’s Health Department has confirmed that two of the deceased were Dutch nationals: a 70-year-old man who died on St Helena on April 11 and his 69-year-old wife, who passed away in South Africa after collapsing at O.R. Tambo International Airport. The British passenger receiving treatment in Johannesburg fell ill on April 27, while the German victim aboard the ship died on May 2.
Investigating the Source of the Outbreak
Hantavirus typically presents with flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, appearing one to eight weeks after exposure. RIVM officials have stated that the source of the outbreak remains unclear. They noted that it is possible that rats aboard the ship transmitted the virus, or that passengers may have contracted it during a stop in South America, potentially from mice.
Daniel Bausch, a visiting professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, highlighted the significance of the cruise ship’s departure from Argentina, noting that there is some evidence of human-to-human transmission related to the Andes virus, a variant of hantavirus found in Argentina and Chile. He expressed optimism, stating that this situation is unlikely to escalate into a larger outbreak.
For further information, please refer to the source: www.arnnewscentre.ae.
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Published on 2026-05-04 06:18:00 • By the Editorial Desk
