A British crew member is in need of urgent medical care after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which is currently stranded off the coast of Cape Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed seven cases of hantavirus, including three deaths, among the 149 people on board from 23 countries.
The WHO reported on Monday that two cases have been laboratory confirmed and five are suspected. The deceased include a married couple from the Netherlands and a German national. A 69-year-old British passenger remains in critical but stable condition in intensive care in South Africa, while a British crew member and a Dutch crew member are showing acute respiratory symptoms, one severe.
The cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, stated that the first death occurred on 11 April, with the cause undetermined at the time. The ship has been denied docking in Cape Verde to protect public health, and discussions are ongoing with Dutch and UK authorities regarding an alternative disembarkation point, possibly Las Palmas or Tenerife.
Hantavirus is primarily spread through rodent urine or faeces and can cause severe respiratory illness. Strict isolation and hygiene protocols are in place on the ship. A US travel blogger on board, Jake Rosmarin, expressed the uncertainty faced by passengers, saying, 'We’re not just headlines: we are people.'
