Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship stranded off Cape Verde

Key facts

• Seven cases of hantavirus identified, including three deaths, one critically ill, and three with mild symptoms.
• Two deaths occurred on board; one after disembarkation in South Africa.
• A 69-year-old British national is in intensive care in Johannesburg with confirmed hantavirus.
• Two crew members on the MV Hondius require urgent medical care.
• Cape Verde denied authorization for the ship to dock at Praia to protect its population.
• The ship carries 149 people of 23 nationalities, including Spanish, British, and American.
• Dutch authorities agreed to lead repatriation of two symptomatic individuals to the Netherlands.
• Spain's Canary Islands are under consideration for disembarkation.

Lede: Outbreak on the MV Hondius

Three people have died and four others have fallen ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which remains anchored off the coast of Cape Verde after being denied permission to dock. on Monday that as of May 4, seven cases — two laboratory confirmed and five suspected — have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient, and three individuals reporting mild symptoms. The ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, confirmed that one passenger in intensive care in Johannesburg has tested positive for hantavirus, though it has not yet been established whether the virus caused the three deaths.

The Victims and the Ill

Among the deceased are three Dutch nationals: a 70-year-old man who died upon arrival on the island of St Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic; a 69-year-old woman who was evacuated to South Africa and died in a Johannesburg hospital; and a third Dutch person whose body remains on board. A 69-year-old British national is in intensive care in Johannesburg with a confirmed case of hantavirus, according to a spokesperson from the South African Department of Health. The patient became ill while the ship was traveling from St Helena to Ascension Island and was transferred from a hospital in Ascension to a private health facility in Sandton. Additionally, two crew members on board are sick and require urgent medical care, the operator said.

Cape Verde Denies Disembarkation

The MV Hondius has been anchored off the coast of Cape Verde for at least 24 hours, but the island nation has refused to allow passengers to disembark. Maria da Luz Lima, president of Cape Verde's National Institute of Public Health, stated in an interview with RTC public broadcaster that the ship was not granted authorization to dock at the port of Praia. The move was intended to protect the Cape Verdean population, and she added that there would be no contact between the passengers and the country. The ship's operator said that Spain's Canary Islands are under consideration for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place.

International Response and Repatriation Efforts

Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort to organize the repatriation of two symptomatic individuals on board to the Netherlands, Oceanwide Expeditions said. However, such a repatriation depends on several factors, including authorization from local officials in Cape Verde. The ship carries 149 people of 23 nationalities, including passengers from Spain, Britain, and the United States. The operator has implemented strict precautionary measures on board, including isolation, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring.

Background on Hantavirus and the Voyage

Hantavirus is an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents. The MV Hondius was traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of west Africa. The World Health Organization's European office said the risk to the wider public remains low. The operator has confirmed that two of the deaths occurred on board and one after disembarkation. The critically ill patient in Johannesburg is the only confirmed hantavirus case among the seven reported.

Uncertainty and Next Steps

The immediate fate of the passengers and crew remains unclear. While the Canary Islands are being considered as a potential disembarkation point, no final decision has been announced. The repatriation of the two symptomatic individuals to the Netherlands hinges on Cape Verde's authorization. Oceanwide Expeditions continues to coordinate with international health authorities, but the standoff off the coast of Cape Verde underscores the challenges of managing infectious disease outbreaks in the confined environment of a cruise ship.

The bottom line

• Three Dutch nationals have died in a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius; one death occurred on St Helena, one in South Africa, and one remains on board.
• A 69-year-old British national is in intensive care in Johannesburg with confirmed hantavirus; two crew members on board also require urgent medical care.
• Cape Verde denied the ship permission to dock, citing the need to protect its population from the virus.
• seven cases as of May 4, including two laboratory-confirmed and five suspected.
• Dutch authorities are leading repatriation efforts for two symptomatic individuals, pending Cape Verde's authorization.
• Spain's Canary Islands are under consideration as a potential disembarkation site for the 149 passengers and crew of 23 nationalities.