A British crew member requires urgent medical care after three deaths on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak. A passenger from the UK also remains in a critical but stable condition after being evacuated to South Africa.
The Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde when the infections emerged. Two cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, including a Dutch woman who died on April 27 after disembarking.
The other fatalities include a Dutch passenger who died on board on April 11 and his wife, who later died after returning to St Helena. A German passenger died on May 2, though the cause has not yet been established.
Oceanwide Expeditions said two staff members – one British and one Dutch – continue to show acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. The British passenger was medically evacuated to Johannesburg on April 27 and is being treated in intensive care.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it is supporting British nationals and working with international partners. Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said the risk to the wider public remains low and there is no need for panic or travel restrictions.
Hantavirus infections, usually spread by rodent urine or faeces, can cause severe respiratory illness. There is no specific treatment, but early medical attention improves survival chances.
