Global health authorities are racing to contain a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship after at least three people died and several others fell seriously ill during a voyage across the South Atlantic.
The vessel, currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, had been traveling from Ushuaia to Cape Verde when passengers reportedly began showing symptoms linked to the rare but potentially deadly virus.
According to South African health authorities, the confirmed deaths include a 70-year-old Dutch man and his 69-year-old wife, while a third death has also been connected to the outbreak. Reports further indicate that a UK national is currently receiving intensive medical care as investigations continue into the spread of the illness onboard.
The World Health Organization said it is now “acting with urgency” to support the 149 passengers and crew members still aboard the ship, while international contact tracing efforts are ongoing.
Swiss health authorities had earlier confirmed another hantavirus-related case involving a passenger from the MV Hondius who reportedly sought medical treatment in Zurich after responding to a notification from the cruise operator regarding a possible onboard health incident.
As of May 6, eight cases linked to the outbreak had been identified, with at least three laboratory-confirmed as infections caused by the Andes strain of hantavirus. Laboratory testing was reportedly carried out by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Geneva University Hospitals, with additional support from Institut Pasteur de Dakar and Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud.
Hantavirus is a rare virus usually transmitted through contact with infected rodents, especially exposure to rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Early symptoms often resemble the flu, including fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain, but severe cases can rapidly develop into life-threatening respiratory complications.
Health experts are paying particular attention to the Andes hantavirus strain because it is one of the few known hantavirus variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission. While such transmission remains uncommon, the concentration of cases within the confined environment of a cruise ship has heightened concerns among international health agencies.
Medical experts say outbreaks involving hantavirus remain relatively rare worldwide, but the situation aboard the MV Hondius has raised fears due to the combination of fatalities, international travel exposure, and the close-contact conditions onboard the vessel.
Authorities are now working to identify and monitor all individuals who may have had contact with infected passengers as part of efforts to prevent any wider spread of the virus.
