A deadly outbreak of Hantavirus has left a cruise ship stranded in the Atlantic Ocean, with sick crew members awaiting emergency evacuation and growing concerns over possible human-to-human transmission.
The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, remains anchored off Praia after authorities in Cape Verde denied it permission to dock. The vessel has been unable to proceed while arrangements are made to airlift two infected crew members for urgent treatment in the Netherlands.
According to the World Health Organization, at least three people have died in the outbreak, with two confirmed cases and five additional suspected infections. Health officials believe the virus involved may be the Andes strain, one of the few variants capable of spreading between humans under close-contact conditions.
The ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said passengers remain calm as strict isolation and hygiene protocols are enforced onboard. Plans are in place for the vessel to sail to the Canary Islands once the medical evacuation is completed, pending approval from Spanish authorities.
Health experts report that symptoms among those infected included fever, gastrointestinal distress, and rapid progression to severe respiratory complications. One British patient is currently receiving intensive care treatment in Johannesburg after being evacuated earlier in the voyage. Another confirmed case involved a Dutch passenger who died en route to Europe.
The ship began its यात्रा from Ushuaia in early April, stopping at remote locations including Antarctica, Tristan da Cunha, and Saint Helena. Investigators are examining whether exposure to wildlife during these stops may have triggered the outbreak.
Officials say contact tracing is underway to identify individuals who may have been exposed during the voyage. While hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents, the World Health Organization warned that close-contact transmission between humans may have occurred in this case, particularly among passengers sharing cabins.
This marks the first recorded hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, raising fresh concerns about disease containment in isolated travel environments. There is currently no specific cure for the virus, with treatment focused on supportive care such as respiratory assistance.