A 56-year-old British man is among three patients who have been medically evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship for specialist treatment in Europe, following an outbreak of hantavirus on board. The Dutch-flagged vessel is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, with eight suspected cases of the virus and three deaths linked to the ship.
Andes Strain Confirmed
South African health authorities have confirmed that two passengers tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, which is known to be transmissible between humans. This has raised concerns about potential human-to-human transmission on the ship, though global health officials maintain that the overall risk to public health remains low.
Blocked from Docking
The MV Hondius was previously blocked from docking in Tenerife by the Canary Islands leader, who cited public safety concerns. The ship has been unable to find a port willing to accept it, leading to the decision to evacuate the most seriously ill patients by air to European medical facilities.
Health authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and contact tracing is underway for other passengers and crew members who may have been exposed. The World Health Organization has acknowledged the possibility of human-to-human transmission on board but stresses that the overall risk to global health is low.
