The rat-borne virus suspected of killing three and sickening at least seven others on a cruise ship may have spread between passengers in a rare event, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.
WHO Raises Alarm Over Possible Human-to-Human Transmission
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO director for epidemic preparedness, stated that human-to-human transmission cannot be ruled out and is being assumed as a precaution. Hantavirus is typically spread through inhalation of particles from dried rodent droppings or via bites or scratches from infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare but has been suggested in previous cases in Chile and Argentina.
The virus is suspected aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in March en route to Cape Verde. At least seven people are infected, with two confirmed cases and five suspected, including one patient in critical condition and three with mild symptoms. Three individuals have died so far.
Passengers and Crew Stranded
The ship, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, has been stranded at the Port of Praia after Cape Verde health authorities refused docking permission. Two crew members—one British and one Dutch—continue to show acute respiratory symptoms. The infected British crew member is the ship's doctor, who had been treating patients tirelessly, according to passenger Ann Lane from Donnybrook, south Dublin.
Plans are being drawn up to evacuate sick passengers via specialized aircraft, though no definitive plan has been confirmed. The ship may sail to Las Palmas or Tenerife for medical screening under WHO and Dutch health services supervision, but Spanish authorities have not yet approved this.
Timeline of the Outbreak
- April 11: A 70-year-old Dutch man died as the ship headed toward Tristan da Cunha. His body remained onboard until April 24, when it was disembarked on St. Helena.
- Three days later: The man's 69-year-old wife fell ill and later died.
- A British passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where they tested positive for hantavirus.
- May 2: A German passenger died onboard.
Passenger Plea for Help
US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, stranded on the MV Hondius, posted a tearful video on Instagram, saying, "We're not just a story, we're not just headlines, we're people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home." He expressed fear and uncertainty, urging the public to remember the human impact behind the news.
The WHO emphasizes that the risk to the general public is low, as hantavirus does not spread like flu or COVID-19. No specific treatment or cure exists, and about 35% of infected patients die from the disease, according to the CDC.
