Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship

Key facts

• Three people died: a 70-year-old Dutch man, his 69-year-old wife, and a German national.
• One confirmed hantavirus case (British man, 69) in intensive care in Johannesburg.
• Five other suspected cases under investigation, including two crew members on the MV Hondius.
• Ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina on 20 March; due in Cape Verde on 4 May.
• MV Hondius currently anchored off Cape Verde; disembarkation not yet approved.
• Around 150 passengers were on board.
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has a 38% mortality rate.

Lede: A deadly voyage across the Atlantic

Three passengers have died and a British national is fighting for his life after a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. The World Health Organization has confirmed one case of the rare rodent-borne virus and is investigating five more suspected infections, including two crew members still on the vessel.

The victims and the confirmed case

The first victim, a 70-year-old Dutch man, developed fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea and died on arrival at the island of St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic. His 69-year-old wife collapsed at an airport in South Africa while trying to fly home to the Netherlands and died in a Johannesburg hospital. A German national also died aboard the ship. The only confirmed hantavirus case is a 69-year-old British man who fell ill near Ascension Island and was evacuated to South Africa, where he remains in intensive care.

International response and ongoing investigation

The World Health Organization stated that “detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations.” Sequencing of the virus is also under way. Dutch authorities are working to repatriate affected passengers, while South Africa’s Department of Health is coordinating medical care. Oceanwide Expeditions, the shipowner, said the vessel is anchored off Cape Verde, but local authorities have not yet allowed anyone to disembark. The company confirmed that two crew members are symptomatic and require urgent medical care.

Timeline and itinerary of the MV Hondius

The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged vessel, departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina on 20 March for a weekslong cruise that included visits to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other stops. It was due to arrive in Cape Verde on 4 May and then proceed to Spain’s Canary Islands. The first death occurred near St Helena; the British passenger fell ill after the ship left that island. The ship is now anchored off Cape Verde, with disembarkation approval pending.

What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

Hantavirus refers to a group of viruses carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings, urine or saliva. Infections can also occur through rodent bites or scratches. The virus can cause two severe illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which has a mortality rate of about 38%, and Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which primarily affects the kidneys. Human-to-human transmission is rare but possible, according to the WHO.

Global context and historical cases

There are an estimated 150,000 cases of HFRS worldwide each year, mostly in Europe and Asia, with more than half occurring in China. In the United States, 890 cases of hantavirus were reported from 1993 to 2023. The virus gained attention after the late actor Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus infection in New Mexico last year. The confined environment of a cruise ship raises particular concern for potential exposure.

What comes next: medical care and unanswered questions

The priority for Oceanwide Expeditions is to ensure that the two symptomatic crew members receive adequate medical care. The ship may sail to Las Palmas or Tenerife for disembarkation if Cape Verdean approval remains withheld. The WHO continues to support the public health event, but it remains unclear whether the confirmed hantavirus case is directly linked to the three deaths. Laboratory results for the suspected cases are pending, and sequencing of the virus may help determine the strain and origin.

The bottom line

• Three people died and one is in intensive care from a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
• Only one case has been confirmed as hantavirus; five others are under investigation.
• The virus is spread through contact with rodent droppings and can cause severe lung or kidney disease.
• The ship is currently anchored off Cape Verde with two symptomatic crew members awaiting medical evacuation.
• Hantavirus is rare but has a high fatality rate; early medical attention improves survival chances.