A British crew member is in need of urgent medical care following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, a passenger from the UK remains in a critical but stable condition. The tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that three individuals have died and two cases of the virus have been verified.
Confirmed Cases and Fatalities
The confirmed cases include a British passenger currently receiving treatment in South Africa and a Dutch woman who passed away on April 27 after disembarking from the ship. In a statement released on Monday, the company reported that two staff members—one British and one Dutch—are continuing to exhibit acute respiratory symptoms, with one case being mild and the other severe.
The Suspected Outbreak
The suspected outbreak occurred on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde. Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that the British tourist remains in a critical but stable condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa on April 27, where they are now being treated in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg.
Timeline of Events
The ship’s journey began on April 1. On April 11, a passenger died on board, although the cause of death could not be determined at sea. On April 24, that passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation. During the return journey, the wife became unwell and subsequently died. Authorities later confirmed that she tested positive for a variant of hantavirus. Both deceased passengers were Dutch nationals. On May 2, a German passenger on board also died, with the cause yet to be established.
Current Situation and Evacuation Plans
The tour operator confirmed that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for three individuals who will be medically evacuated. A company statement noted: “Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals along with the individual associated with the guest that passed away. This will involve two specialised aircraft equipped with the necessary medical equipment and staffed by trained medical crews. This is not confirmed and is subject to change.” The ship may instead continue to Las Palmas or Tenerife, but no final disembarkation point has been finalised.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantavirus infections are usually spread through contact with infected rodents’ urine or faeces. The virus can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal. While rare, hantavirus infections can spread between people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention significantly improves a patient’s chances of survival.
Government and Health Response
A UK Government spokesperson said: “This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak. FCDO Consular teams have been stood up across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals and we are working around the clock with our international partners, including the cruise ship operator. FCDO teams are also in contact with the family of a British man who was a passenger on the ship and is now in hospital in South Africa.” Hans Henri P Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, stated that the risk to the wider public remains low and that there is “no need for panic or travel restrictions.”
