Three people have died and at least three others have fallen ill aboard a cruise ship following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus. The deceased were passengers on the MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, the company confirmed. The vessel is currently anchored off Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of Africa.
Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak
The World Health Organization has identified the illness as a suspected outbreak of hantavirus, though Oceanwide Expeditions has not specified the virus responsible for the deaths and illnesses. In a press release, the company stated that one affected passenger is receiving intensive care in Johannesburg, while two crew members onboard require urgent medical attention.
Cape Verdean authorities have not granted permission for guests requiring medical care to disembark and have provided no authorization for medical screening, the company added. Local health officials have visited the vessel to assess the condition of the two symptomatic individuals but have yet to decide on transferring them to medical facilities in Cape Verde. Oceanwide Expeditions emphasized that its priority is ensuring these individuals receive adequate and expedited medical care.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare, deadly rodent-borne virus. It gained public attention in February 2025 when it killed Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman. In the United States, the virus is extremely rare, with only one or two deaths annually and approximately 1,000 cases over the past three decades. Cases typically occur among farmers, hikers, campers, and homeless populations.
Hantaviruses are found worldwide and are transmitted when people inhale aerosolized fecal matter, urine, or saliva from infected rodents. The disease was first identified in South Korea in 1978, isolated from a field mouse. In the US, about 40 to 50 cases occur each year, mostly in the Southwest. Between 1993 and 2022, 864 cases were confirmed, according to the latest CDC data. Globally, there are 150,000 to 200,000 cases annually, predominantly in China.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms typically appear within one to eight weeks of exposure and include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills, and abdominal or digestive issues. After four to ten days, patients may experience shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fluid in the lungs. There is no specific treatment; supportive therapies like rest, hydration, and breathing support are provided. About 38 percent of those who develop respiratory symptoms die, the CDC reports.
Hantavirus in the US and Beyond
The rarity of hantavirus in the US is partly due to fewer rodent species acting as hosts compared to Asia and Europe. Deer mice are the most common carriers. Science writer David Quammen, who predicted the Covid-19 pandemic, noted that an increase in hantavirus cases could have global implications. The virus was first identified in Korea and later emerged in the Four Corners area of the US in 1992.
In 2024, the virus was detected in five Arizona residents and four people in Nevada, with seven confirmed cases and four deaths. Three people died in Mammoth Lakes, California, despite no typical exposure activities. To reduce risk, health officials recommend airing out spaces with rodent droppings, avoiding sweeping, using disinfectant, and wearing gloves and a mask.
Virginia Tech researchers recently found that hantavirus is circulating more widely than previously thought, with antibodies detected in six additional rodent species. Virginia had the highest infection rate among rodents at nearly eight percent, four times the national average. Colorado and Texas followed, with rates more than double the national average.
