The World Health Organization has issued a concerning update regarding an illness outbreak on the Dutch cruise ship Hondius. Experts suspect that the hantavirus may be spreading from person to person on the vessel.
So far, the virus has claimed three lives. Two individuals have confirmed infections, and five others are suspected cases. Doctors in South Africa are conducting tests to determine the exact cause. They believe it is the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread between humans.
The Ship is Stranded off the Coast of Africa
The Hondius remains anchored near Praia, Cape Verde, after the country denied it port entry. The ship has been in this location since Monday morning. Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator, aims to sail to the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory. However, the ship cannot move until two sick crew members—one from Britain and one from the Netherlands—can be evacuated to the Netherlands for medical care. Both are currently stable.
Evacuation and Medical Assistance Plans
The Dutch government is arranging a plane to transport the ill crew members to a hospital. Maria Van Kerkhove of the WHO stated that they are coordinating with authorities on next steps. The Spanish Health Ministry will send a medical team to the ship on Tuesday to assess how to repatriate passengers and determine the ship's destination.
The Ship's Remote Itinerary
The Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, heading to Antarctica. It visited remote islands such as Tristan da Cunha and Saint Helena. Illness onset among passengers occurred between April 6 and April 28, with symptoms including fever, gastrointestinal issues, severe pneumonia, and respiratory distress.
Investigating the Virus Source
The origin of the virus remains unknown. A British man is hospitalized in Johannesburg after being evacuated at Ascension Island. A Dutch woman died en route to the Netherlands, and her husband died aboard the ship. The WHO notes that hantavirus typically spreads via rodents, but no rodents were found on the ship. They speculate that infections may have occurred through contact with contaminated surfaces during shore excursions in Argentina.
Concerns Over Person-to-Person Transmission
Given the Andes strain's ability to spread between people, the WHO is highly concerned. Van Kerkhove highlighted that many passengers are couples sharing cabins, facilitating transmission. This is the first recorded hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. As there is no cure, medical care focuses on symptom management and respiratory support.
The 88 passengers, including 17 Americans, and 59 crew members remain isolated under strict protocols to curb the virus's spread. They await further developments.
