The WHO is investigating a deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship that has resulted in three fatalities and multiple suspected infections.
A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has claimed three lives during an Atlantic voyage from Argentina. The WHO confirmed one case, with five others under investigation. Among the victims was a Dutch couple; the husband died on board, while his wife passed away after evacuation to Johannesburg.
Hantavirus typically spreads via rodent contact, but rare person-to-person transmission can cause severe respiratory illness. While one British national remains in intensive care, the WHO is coordinating medical evacuations and a public health risk assessment. Currently, the 170-passenger vessel is navigating toward Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. The UK Foreign Office is “monitoring reports closely” to support affected nationals. Despite the tragedy, officials emphasize that “meaningful change would come from within” regarding shipboard health protocols.
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