Three passengers have died following a suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and South Africa’s health department confirmed on Sunday. Among the deceased are a husband and wife from the Netherlands, aged 70 and 69, and a third unidentified person. At least three others have been taken ill, including a British man who tested positive for the virus.
The MV Hondius, operated by Dutch tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, was travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde when the outbreak occurred. The Dutch couple fell ill onboard; the husband died on the island of Saint Helena, and his wife later died at a hospital in Kempton Park, South Africa. The 69-year-old British man was admitted to a private health facility in Johannesburg after becoming ill on the ship.
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodent urine or faeces and can cause severe respiratory or kidney disease. While rare, human-to-human transmission is possible, according to the WHO. There is no specific cure, but early medical attention improves survival chances. The WHO is coordinating with national authorities to evacuate two symptomatic passengers from the ship.
The ship, which can carry around 170 passengers and 70 crew, remained off the coast of Cape Verde on Sunday night. Local health authorities have assessed the symptomatic individuals, but the vessel has not received authorisation to disembark them. Oceanwide Expeditions said it is working on repatriating the two ill individuals and the body of the deceased to the Netherlands.
The UK Foreign Office stated it is closely monitoring the situation and ready to support any British nationals affected. The WHO has confirmed at least one case of hantavirus and is conducting further laboratory tests and epidemiological investigations.
