A British crew member is in need of “urgent” medical care while another Briton is undergoing treatment in intensive care following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a polar expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic. The outbreak on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, which began a remote expedition voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde on 1 April, has left at least three people dead.
Details of the Outbreak
The operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, confirmed that a Dutch husband and wife, as well as a German national, had died. The confirmed cases include a British passenger receiving care in South Africa and a Dutch woman who died on 27 April after disembarking. The British passenger remains in a “critical but stable” condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa, where they are being treated in intensive care. The operator said two crew members – one British and one Dutch – were continuing to show “acute respiratory symptoms”, one mild and one severe.
WHO Confirms Seven Cases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that a total of seven hantavirus cases – two confirmed and five suspected – have been identified on the cruise ship so far. The WHO stated, “As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms.” The WHO is working with local authorities and Oceanwide Expeditions on a “full public health risk assessment.”
Background on Hantavirus
Hantavirus first emerged in the western hemisphere in 1993 in the southeastern United States. Before that, hantavirus was associated with diseases exclusively found in the Eastern Hemisphere, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The 1993 outbreak was initially believed to be a mystery flu before researchers determined the illness was a novel strain of hantavirus. The disease was linked to rodents living near the homes of those who fell ill. Since then, exposure to the saliva, feces, and urine of rodents has been recognized as the primary means of transmission. Most hantavirus strains rarely transmit between humans, though one strain – the Andes virus – can spread from human to human.
British Foreign Office Response
The British government confirmed that consular teams from the Foreign Office have been activated across the UK, South Africa, Spain, and Portugal to support British nationals affected by the outbreak. “This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak,” it said in a statement. “We are working around the clock with our international partners, including the cruise ship operator. FCDO teams are also in contact with the family of a British man who was a passenger on the ship and is now in hospital in South Africa.”
Ongoing Response and Medical Evacuations
Oceanwide Expeditions stated that it is considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place. Guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for three individuals who will be medically evacuated. Dutch authorities are actively preparing a medical evacuation of the two symptomatic individuals along with the individual associated with the guest who passed away. This will involve two specialised aircraft equipped with necessary medical equipment and staffed by trained medical crews. The situation remains subject to change.
Timeline of Events
The first passenger to die was a 70-year-old Dutch man who developed a fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea just weeks into the trip. He died on the vessel. His 69-year-old wife helped take his body off the ship when it arrived at the island of St. Helena, but she later fell ill and died in a Johannesburg hospital. A German passenger died over the weekend. The only confirmed case of hantavirus aboard the ship is a 69-year-old British man who fell seriously ill and required evacuation for medical treatment in Johannesburg.
