Three people have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization has confirmed.
One case has been laboratory-confirmed, while five additional suspected infections are currently under investigation.
Accordig to The Guardian, the vessel departed Ushuaia in southern Argentina approximately three weeks ago, carrying 150 passengers on a route toward Cape Verde.
Stops included Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and several remote Atlantic islands. South Africa’s Department of Health confirmed that a British passenger is among those infected and is currently receiving treatment in intensive care.
The fatalities include a Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69.
The man reportedly became acutely ill on board with a fever and abdominal pain before dying after evacuation to St Helena. His wife later passed away in a South African hospital.
A third death was reported on board by the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, which also noted that two crew members require urgent medical care.
Hantaviruses are typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent waste or saliva. While human-to-human transmission is rare, the virus can cause life-threatening respiratory or renal failure. There is no specific cure, making early medical intervention critical for survival.
The ship is currently docked in Praia, Cape Verde, but authorities have not yet granted clearance for passengers to disembark.
“The WHO is supporting the response to what it described as a public health event,” a spokesperson told the outlet, noting that investigations involving laboratory testing and epidemiological tracing are ongoing.
Oceanwide Expeditions stated it is coordinating with health officials to facilitate urgent medical evacuations. Dutch authorities are currently arranging the repatriation of two symptomatic passengers and the body of one of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office confirmed it is monitoring the situation and remains in contact with local authorities and the ship’s operator.
The WHO continues to coordinate with member states on risk assessments for the remaining passengers as the investigation into the source of the outbreak continues.