A British national is receiving medical treatment in a South African hospital after a suspected hantavirus outbreak occurred on a cruise ship traversing the Atlantic Ocean, as confirmed by the country's Department of Health.
Outbreak Details and Fatalities
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that three individuals have died and at least three others are unwell in connection with the outbreak. The UN agency stated that an investigation has been initiated, with at least one case of hantavirus confirmed through laboratory testing.
The outbreak was identified on the Dutch-flagged passenger cruise ship MV Hondius, which was en route from Argentina to Cape Verde. According to ship tracking data from MarineTraffic, the vessel was anchored near Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on Sunday night. The ship, operated by tour company Oceanwide Expeditions, has a capacity for 170 passengers in 80 cabins.
Hantavirus Infection and Risks
Hantavirus infections are typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents' urine or faeces. The virus can cause severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, prove fatal. While human-to-human transmission is rare, the WHO notes that it is possible.
A spokesperson for the South African Department of Health confirmed that a man from the United Kingdom who fell ill on the ship was transported to a private healthcare facility in Sandton, Johannesburg. His laboratory results tested positive for hantavirus.
The UK Foreign Office stated: "We are closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and stand ready to support British nationals if needed. We are in touch with the cruise company and local authorities."
Victims and International Response
According to South African health authorities, a 70-year-old Dutch man and his 69-year-old wife have died after becoming ill. The man experienced fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea, and died on the island of St Helena. His wife collapsed at an airport and was taken to a hospital in the Kempton Park area of South Africa.
The WHO said: "Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing."
Hans Henri P Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, emphasised that the risk to the wider public remains low, adding that there is "no need for panic or travel restrictions."
Cruise Operator's Actions
Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise operator, reported on Sunday that authorities in Cape Verde had not authorised the disembarkation of two crew members who "require urgent medical care." Local health officials have visited the ship to assess their condition. The company stated that ensuring the two crew members receive "adequate and expedited medical care" is its top priority.
There is no specific treatment or cure for hantavirus, but early medical attention significantly improves survival chances. The recent death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, from hantavirus infection last year highlights the severity of the disease. Hackman, 95, died about a week after his wife, but tests confirmed he was negative for hantavirus, with heart disease as the primary cause of death.
