Update: 5 May
Passengers and crew remain confined on a cruise ship off Cape Verde after authorities refused to let it dock following three deaths linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had been travelling from Ushuaia when the situation unfolded.
Those on board are now under strict precautionary measures, including isolation, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.
Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, are experiencing respiratory symptoms and require urgent medical care, although hantavirus has not been confirmed in their cases. No other passengers or crew have reported symptoms, as reported by the BBC.
Despite the incident, the World Health Organisation said the risk to the wider public remains low.
A suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship travelling across the Atlantic has left three people dead – one of whom was treated in a Johannesburg hospital – and at least five others ill, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed to AP News on Sunday that at least one case of the virus has been confirmed, while additional suspected infections remain under investigation.
It is believed that the outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde, and carrying approximately 150 tourists from various countries.
Illness emerges suddenly mid-voyage
Passengers reportedly began showing symptoms during the journey, with the first fatality – a 70-year-old European man – dying on board after suddenly becoming ill. His 69-year-old wife later fell sick and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died while receiving intensive care treatment in a Johannesburg hospital, according to the BBC, which added that the elderly man’s body is currently on Saint Helena.
A third death has also been confirmed, with other passengers continuing to receive medical care as authorities assess the situation.
Efforts are underway to evacuate two additional symptomatic passengers from the vessel, as health authorities coordinate a broader response.
‘Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations,’ the WHO told AP News. ‘Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.’
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease typically transmitted through contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents, most commonly rats and mice. Early medical treatment can increase the chance of survival, although there is no specific treatment or cure.
While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, the WHO explained that it is still possible. The virus can lead to severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, death.
The UN health agency officials say further testing and genetic sequencing are ongoing to better understand the strain involved in the outbreak.
Ongoing investigation and containment efforts
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation on board, with discussions underway regarding the isolation and treatment of additional suspected cases.
The WHO told the publication that it is working alongside national health departments and the ship’s operators to coordinate medical evacuations and conduct a full public health risk assessment.
The vessel is currently understood to have docked in Cape Verde on Sunday night, with further travel plans under review as containment measures continue.
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