Hantavirus Patients Evacuated from Cruise Ship in Cape Verde
In a high-stakes medical operation, three individuals suspected of hantavirus infection were evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius in Cape Verde on Tuesday. The group is currently being flown to the Netherlands for specialized treatment and observation following a deadly outbreak on board the vessel.
A Coordinated International Rescue
The evacuation involved two air ambulances and medical teams clad in full protective suits. The patients—two crew members showing mild symptoms and one asymptomatic passenger—were transported from the ship to Praia International Airport under strict safety protocols. The passenger involved had reportedly shared a cabin with one of the three individuals who died earlier in the voyage.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed the operation via social media, noting that the mission was a joint effort between the WHO, the ship’s operator, and the governments of Cape Verde, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
Status of the Patients
According to Ann Lindstrand, the WHO representative in Cape Verde, all three evacuees are currently in stable condition. While two crew members are awaiting blood test results to confirm the infection, the third individual has yet to show symptoms.
The MV Hondius departed from Argentina in April with 147 people on board. The journey across the South Atlantic turned tragic as a severe respiratory illness swept through a small group of occupants. To date, seven cases have been identified: three fatalities, two laboratory-confirmed cases of hantavirus, and two suspected cases.
Minimal Risk to the Public
Cape Verdean health authorities and the WHO have emphasized that the evacuation pose “low risk” to the general population. The transport was conducted with maximum security measures to ensure no contact between the patients and the public. “So far, no new occurrences involving other occupants of the vessel have been recorded,” authorities stated.
The MV Hondius has been anchored in the Cape Verdean capital since Sunday, held under a strict quarantine that prohibited anyone from disembarking. With the evacuation complete, the ship is expected to be cleared to continue its journey toward the Canary Islands or the Netherlands, provided no further cases emerge among the remaining passengers and crew.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people, including serious respiratory infections. The WHO continues to monitor the health of those remaining on the ship to ensure appropriate medical follow-up.
Image: Pexels – Erik Mclean
