The MV Hondius expedition cruise ship has been hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak while sailing the Atlantic. Operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that a Dutch husband and wife and a German national have died, while a British passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa. There are currently 149 people on board.

Details

According to the company’s timeline, the outbreak traces back to April 11 when a passenger fell ill on board. The passenger disembarked when the ship docked at St Helena on April 24, but the cause of death could not be determined. His wife also disembarked but fell ill during the return journey and later died.

On April 27, a 69-year-old British passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. Laboratory tests confirmed infection with a variant of hantavirus. The patient remains in critical but stable condition.

The World Health Organisation said in a statement on May 4 that it had identified seven cases of hantavirus, two confirmed by laboratory testing and five suspected. Two crew members aboard also have acute respiratory symptoms requiring urgent medical care.

About Hantavirus

Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through rodent faeces, saliva, or urine and can cause severe respiratory illness. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare. The cluster of cases on this cruise ship has drawn significant attention from public health experts due to its unusual concentration.

Developments

The cruise company is negotiating with local authorities for emergency medical assistance. The MV Hondius is currently off the coast of Cape Verde.

Sources: BBC News, Forbes