Three dead in suspected outbreak aboard Mv Hondius
Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard mv hondius, the cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde across the Atlantic Ocean. The World Health Organization said one case has been confirmed and five more are under investigation as medical evacuations and isolation plans continue across several countries.
MV Hondius voyage from Ushuaia
MV Hondius departed from Ushuaia in Argentina on 20 March and was expected to complete its journey in Cape Verde on 4 May. The ship is a 107.6m polar cruise ship with space for 170 people in 80 cabins, run by the Dutch-based tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.
The first person to show virus symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger who died on board. His body was on the island of Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic, after the voyage was interrupted by the illness aboard the ship.
South Africa and Saint Helena
His 69-year-old wife became ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital. Foster Mohale, the spokesperson for South Africa's health ministry, told the that “at least two people had died.” A 69-year-old British national was also in intensive care in Johannesburg.
The husband and wife were a Dutch couple. The third fatality was still on board when the AFP source spoke anonymously, leaving the ship with one of the deaths still unresolved in terms of location and handling.
WHO coordination and isolation
The World Health Organization said it was helping co-ordinate between member states and the ship’s operators for the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers. The organization also said it was supporting a full public health risk assessment and support for those still on board.
Two other sick passengers were being considered for isolation in hospital in Cape Verde. The outbreak therefore moved from a single shipboard illness report to a multi-country response involving Saint Helena, South Africa, Cape Verde and the ship’s operators.
Hantavirus infections are usually linked to environmental exposure, such as contact with urine or faeces from infected rodents, though the World Health Organization said one case had been confirmed aboard the vessel and five more remained under investigation. For passengers and crew, the immediate issue is the medical handling of anyone still showing symptoms and where the remaining cases are isolated next.
