Three passengers on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius have died and at least three others have fallen ill following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was traveling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde with 149 passengers of 23 different nationalities, including 17 Americans. One of the deceased has been identified as a German national.
The World Health Organization confirmed that one case of the rare rodent-borne virus was laboratory-confirmed in a British man currently in intensive care in South Africa. Five other cases are suspected, including two crew members—one British and one Dutch—who require urgent medical care. Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with the saliva, urine, or feces of infected rodents like rats and mice, causing severe respiratory infections or hemorrhagic fever. While the virus can rarely spread between humans, there is no specific cure, though early medical attention can increase survival rates.
The ship is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, where local officials have refused docking permission to protect public health. Oceanwide Expeditions is considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife to disembark passengers and crew. The World Health Organization is investigating the cluster of infections but has stated that the risk to the general public is low and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.