Virus Outbreak on Atlantic Cruise Ship
Tuesday, 2026/05/05163 words3 minutes463 reads
Three passengers have died and a British national remains critically ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is currently anchored off Cape Verde with 149 people aboard.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents and their droppings, saliva, or urine. It can cause severe respiratory problems. The 69-year-old British patient, now in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa, has tested positive for the virus.
The ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, approximately three weeks ago. Among the deceased are a Dutch couple and a German passenger. Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, are showing acute respiratory symptoms and require urgent medical attention.
The World Health Organization stated that while hantavirus can be severe, it rarely spreads between people. Local authorities in Cape Verde have visited the ship but have not yet permitted passengers to disembark. The company is considering sailing to the Canary Islands as an alternative.
