Three passengers have died and another remains in critical condition following a severe Hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, currently navigating the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first fatality has been definitively linked to the virus. Five additional suspected cases are currently awaiting laboratory confirmation, the agency told AFP on Sunday.
Details of the Casualties
First Victim: A 70-year-old male who succumbed to hemorrhagic fever aboard the vessel.
Second Victim: The 69-year-old wife of the first victim, who passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Third Victim: A passenger who died directly on the ship. Sources indicate the body remained on board as of Sunday.
Critical Patient: A 69-year-old British national is currently fighting for their life in a Johannesburg intensive care unit (ICU).
Ship Itinerary and Emergency Response
Operated by the Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions, the MV Hondius—a 353-foot polar expedition vessel—departed from Argentina on March 20. It was scheduled to dock in Cape Verde, Africa, on May 4. The ship features 80 cabins with a capacity of 170 passengers.
The WHO is coordinating the rapid evacuation of sick individuals and conducting a comprehensive health risk assessment for all remaining passengers and crew. Authorities are reportedly discussing the isolation of two symptomatic passengers at a Cape Verde medical facility before the ship continues its journey to the Canary Islands, Spain.
About Hantavirus
Transmission: Primarily spreads through contact with infected rodent urine, feces, and saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.
Treatment: There is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine, though early medical intervention significantly increases survival chances.
Fatality Rate: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the mortality rate at approximately 35%, making it highly lethal.
Recent Prominent Cases: The dangers of the virus were recently highlighted in February, when legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, reportedly died after contracting the virus in a rodent-infested residence.
