A British doctor is among around 150 guests and crew, including 23 British nationals, confined aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship amid a hantavirus outbreak in the Atlantic near Cape Verde. The Dutch-operated vessel has been held in isolation after three deaths were confirmed from this rare rodent-borne disease while sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.
Ships Doctor Falls Ill
Ann Lane from Dublin told the Irish Times the ship’s doctor, a younger British man, has been sick since last Thursday but has been “fabulous,” treating patients day and night. Another crew member is also reported ill, highlighting concerns over the virus spreading onboard.
Quarantine And Evacuations
Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that two individuals requiring urgent medical evacuation, along with a person linked to a fatality on 2 May, will be flown to the Netherlands by specialised aircraft en route to Cape Verde. The MV Hondius plans to sail to the Canary Islands, either Gran Canaria or Tenerife, once evacuations are complete, subject to ongoing discussions with health authorities.
Spains Docking Decision Pending
Spain’s health ministry stated it will decide if and where the ship can dock based on epidemiological data collected onboard during its stop in Cape Verde. The ministry said no decision will be made before consulting the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is investigating potential transmission linked to a passenger who disembarked at St Helena and later died in South Africa, testing positive for hantavirus.
Understanding Hantavirus
Hantavirus is transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodent droppings, saliva, urine, or nesting materials. It is extremely rare and rarely spreads between humans. Infections can cause serious illnesses affecting the lungs or kidneys, with symptoms initially resembling flu, including headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, and abdominal pain. The virus can be fatal, and no cure currently exists.
WHO is Contact Tracing Underway
Health authorities are tracing passengers from an Airlink flight linked to the infected Dutch woman who left the ship at St Helena. The airline has been instructed to alert the 82 passengers on board to contact their health departments for monitoring amid concerns of virus transmission.
