Passengers on a cruise ship are facing uncertainty as the vessel anchors off the coast of Cape Verde, with an outbreak of a potentially fatal viral infection leading to three deaths and several suspected cases. The MV Hondius, a Dutch ship, has seen three fatalities linked to hantavirus, with a Dutch passenger passing away on April 11 and their spouse on April 27. Another death of a German passenger occurred on May 2, but the cause is still under investigation.
Among the passengers on board are 19 Britons, with one crew member set for evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment, along with a Dutch crew member and a passenger. Additional cases have been identified, including a British passenger who was evacuated to a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The World Health Organization confirmed a new case in a Swiss man who was previously on the ship.
A doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine highlighted the seriousness of the situation, explaining that the hantavirus outbreak is of concern due to its ability to spread from human to human, particularly the Andes variant which is endemic in the region where the ship originated. Despite the worrisome nature of the outbreak, the doctor emphasized that the likelihood of a global pandemic is low.
Efforts are being made to evacuate passengers with suspected infections before the ship heads to the Canary Islands, although the region’s president has expressed opposition to the plan. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured plans for the safe travel of British citizens on board, with the Foreign Office maintaining direct communication with all British passengers. The UK Health Security Agency notes that hantavirus, carried by rodents, is transmitted through contact with rodent droppings and urine.
Hantavirus symptoms can include severe respiratory issues, with infections typically presenting within one to four weeks post-exposure. While most hantavirus types do not spread among humans, the Andes variant can transmit through close and prolonged contact. No specific treatment or vaccine exists for hantavirus, with patients receiving symptom-based care.
