Three cruise ship passengers have died and three others fallen ill following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard a Netherlands-based expedition vessel, according to authorities and media reports.
Operator Oceanwide Expeditions said it was managing a “serious medical situation” on its ship, the MV Hondius, which was sailing off Cape Verde at the time of the incident.
The vessel had departed from Argentina around three weeks earlier with approximately 150 passengers, travelling via Antarctica and other destinations before heading toward West Africa.
A spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of the deceased were Dutch nationals. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said one of the sick passengers was in intensive care in South Africa. Media reports indicated that the patient is British.
The WHO said laboratory tests have confirmed hantavirus in one of the six affected individuals and that it is investigating the outbreak. The agency is also coordinating with national authorities and the ship’s operator to organize medical evacuations and assess public health risks for those still onboard.
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause severe respiratory illness. It is typically transmitted when particles from rodent urine or droppings become airborne, though rare cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported.
The illness usually begins with flu-like symptoms but can progress to heart and lung failure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 40% of cases can be fatal. There is no specific treatment, with care focused on supportive measures such as ventilation in severe cases.
Oceanwide Expeditions said authorities in Cape Verde had not granted permission for passengers needing medical care to disembark. Dutch officials are now working to arrange the repatriation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as the return of a deceased individual.
The WHO said it is continuing to support efforts to manage the situation, including facilitating coordination between countries involved and providing guidance on public health measures for those remaining aboard the vessel.
