Hantavirus Outbreak: 3 Dead on Quarantined Cruise Ship
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a second case of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship currently quarantined off the coast of Cape Verde. The announcement comes alongside news of five additional suspected cases, as authorities scramble to contain an outbreak that has already claimed three lives.
Casualties and Critical Cases
The outbreak on the m/v Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, has turned a wildlife observation voyage into a medical emergency. The two laboratory-confirmed cases involve a passenger currently in critical condition in a Johannesburg intensive care unit and a Dutch woman who died on April 26. The woman had been traveling with her husband, the first person to die during the voyage on April 11.
Health officials are currently monitoring five other suspected cases. These include the two completed fatalities—the man who died on April 11 and a woman who succumbed to illness on May 2—as well as three individuals currently on board. Two of those showing symptoms, including high fever and gastrointestinal issues, are crew members.
Emergency Evacuations and Quarantine
Oceanwide Expeditions is currently coordinating with international authorities to evacuate two crew members suffering from respiratory distress. One is reported to be in severe condition and requires urgent hospital intervention.
For the remaining 149 people on board—representing 23 different nationalities—the ordeal continues. The ship is stationed in Cape Verde while authorities negotiate a port of disembarkation. Potential destinations include Las Palmas or Tenerife in the Canary Islands, though no firm agreement has been reached. Ships’ officials describe the atmosphere on board as \”quiet\” despite the mounting health crisis.
Tracing the Infection
The voyage began in Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20 and was intended to conclude on May 4. The WHO reports that symptoms among the sickened passengers progressed with terrifying speed, moving from fever and nausea to pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, and life-threatening shock.
In a race against time, the WHO is attempting to trace passengers from a commercial flight taken by the deceased Dutch passenger before her diagnosis was confirmed.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are typically transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents—often by inhaling contaminated dust in enclosed spaces. While most strains do not spread between humans, the Andes virus variant found in South America is a known exception capable of person-to-person transmission.
Medical experts have not yet identified the specific strain involved in this outbreak or determined whether the virus is spreading through the ship’s environment or directly between passengers. While the WHO currently assesses the global risk as “low,” the investigation into the source of the infection remains ongoing.
Image: Pexels – Ojas Narappanawar
