Three Dead, Others Sickened in Outbreak of Rare Disease Aboard Cruise Ship
An outbreak of hantavirus is being investigated aboard the MV *Hondius*, a cruise ship anchored off Cape Verde. Officials say three people have died and three others have fallen ill. the ship remains under restrictions, with passengers unable too disembark while local health authorities board to treat two crew members who needed urgent medical care.
Hantavirus can cause severe, often fatal respiratory illness, typically spread through contact with the saliva, urine, or droppings of infected rodents. Early reports describe multiple victims, including a Dutch man who died April 11 and his wife, as well as a German citizen who died days later.
Health agencies and the World health institution report suspected cases and at least one confirmed case, with ongoing laboratory and epidemiological investigations. A patient taken ashore (described as British) is reported to be in critical condition and receiving supportive, symptom-based treatment. Authorities are also considering possibilities such as contamination of the ship or transmission involving a rare human-circulating variant.
Passengers have expressed growing fear as the situation is monitored closely by Cape Verdean health authorities.
Three people are dead and three others have fallen ill in what officials believe is an outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship.
The MV Hondius is now anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, an island off the west coast of Africa, according to CNN, citing a statement by Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that operates the cruise ship.
The ship still has 149 people aboard, including 17 Americans, the outlet reported.
For now, passengers cannot disembark. Local health authorities boarded the ship to treat two crew members “requiring urgent medical care,” Oceanwide Expeditions said.
Hantavirus can cause a severe and often deadly respiratory illness. Contact with the saliva, urine, or droppings of rats and mice is the most common means of transmission.
The first victim was a 70-year-old man from the Netherlands who suffered a fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea before dying on April 11.
His 69-year-old wife died days later.
A German citizen died on Saturday.
Travel vlogger Jake Rosmarin said fear has spread through the ship.
“What’s happening right now is very real for all of us here. We’re not just a story. We’re not just headlines,” he said.
“We’re people, people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home. There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part.”
Cape Verde’s health authorities are “monitoring this situation very closely … and will provide an update as soon as possible,” the country’s health director, Angela Gomes, said.
The World Health Organization said five hantavirus cases are suspected, and one has been confirmed.
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said.
Scott Miscovich, CEO of Premier Medical Group, said it is unusual to have the virus present on a ship that hasn’t docked where the virus is found.
“When I first read this, I thought that they were making a misprint,” he told CNN following the news of the suspected outbreak.
He said it is possible either the ship was contaminated, or a passenger picked up a rare Andes variant that is transmissible between humans.
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s minister of health, said a British patient taken ashore was critical and had been admitted to a private facility, according to the BBC.
“He’s being taken care of. As you know, hantavirus, like all viruses, don’t have any specific treatment, so they are giving symptomatic treatment and support as much as they could,” he said.
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