No escape from rat virus dying ship: Seriously sick British ‘ship physician’ nonetheless can not go away vessel and cruise agency admits it doesn’t know what’s going to occur to remaining passengers after three died

A seriously ill British crew member is still trapped on the MV Hondius cruise ship following a suspected outbreak of the deadly hantavirus infection.

Three people have died so far from the rare rat-borne virus on the Dutch-flagged vessel, which set off in March to sail from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde.

The luxury ship has been stranded at the Port of Praia after health authorities in Cape Verde said they would not authorise its docking ‘with the aim of protecting national public health’.

In its latest update on the crisis, cruise firm Oceanwide Expeditions said on Monday that two crew members – one British and the other Dutch – were continuing to show ‘acute respiratory symptoms’, one mild and one severe, and required urgent medical care.

The infected British crew member is the ship’s doctor, according to passenger Ann Lane from Donnybrook, south Dublin.

‘Now the ship’s doctor and a member of the expedition staff are sick on board. The doctor had been treating everybody day and night, really dedicated to what he was doing – [he has been] fabulous,’ she told the Irish Times.

‘He’s a younger man, British. He has been sick quite a few days, maybe since last Thursday.’

Medics are scrambling to evacuate the sick passengers with two specialised aircraft, but an ‘accurate timeline of this complex operation is currently unknown’ and the mission is still ‘not confirmed and is subject to change’.

Meanwhile, ‘a definitive disembarkation point for the remaining guests on board has not been finalised’, the statement said, leaving 149 people from 23 countries anxiously waiting to learn their fate.

Sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife is being considered, where medical screening supervised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Dutch health services will take place, but no definitive evacuation plan has been confirmed.

‘We’re working with Spanish authorities who… have said that they will welcome the ship to do a full investigation, a full epidemiologic investigation, full disinfection of the ship and of course, to assess the risk of the passengers that are actually on board,’ WHO epidemic and pandemic prevention director Maria Van Kerkhove said on Tuesday.

But Spain was quick to shoot down the suggestion, insisting immediately that ‘no decision’ had been taken yet to accept the cruise ship.

On Monday, the WHO said it had identified seven cases of hantavirus on the vessel, including three people who had died, one who ​was critically ill and three with mild symptoms.

The first stricken passenger, a 70-year-old Dutch man, died on April 11 as the ship steamed towards Tristan da Cunha. 

His body remained on board until April 24, when it ‘was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation,’ Oceanwide Expeditions said. 

Three days later, the man’s 69-year-old wife also fell sick and ​later died, while another passenger, ​a Briton, became ‘seriously ill ⁠and was medically evacuated to South Africa,’ the company said. 

South African authorities have confirmed that the 69-year-old British patient, who is being treated in a Johannesburg hospital, tested ​positive for the hantavirus. 

On May 2, another passenger of German nationality died on board the ship.

The WHO said: ‘As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms.’ 

On Tuesday, US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, a passenger on the ship, released a tearful update from his bedroom, telling his 44 thousand followers in a video on Instagram: ‘I am currently on board the MV Hondius, and what’s happening right now is very real for all of us here.

‘We’re not just a story, we’re not just headlines, we’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.’

Overwhelmed with emotion and fear, the content creator from Boston continued: ‘There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part.

‘All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity, and to get home. So if you’re seeing coverage about this, just remember that there are real people behind it, and that this isn’t something happening far away. 

‘It’s happening to us, right now.’ He ended the video plea asking for ‘kindness and understanding’.

‘The atmosphere on board remains calm, with passengers generally composed,’ the cruise company said.   

‘Oceanwide Expeditions team members are working diligently to support all individuals on board and uphold stringent health and safety procedures as part of Oceanwide Expeditions’ SHIELD response plan. 

‘This is currently at level 3, the highest response level, and includes isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.’

WHO reiterated its advice that ​the risk to the wider public was low from the disease, which is typically spread from infected rodents and only ​rarely passes between humans.

Cape Verde – an island nation off the coast of West Africa – still asked the ship to stay ‌at ⁠sea as a precaution, however.

‘The disembarkation of passengers, medical evacuation and medical screening require permission from, and coordination with, the local health authorities,’ Oceanwide Expeditions said.

‘We can confirm that guests will not be disembarking in Cape Verde, except for the three individuals who are planned to be medically evacuated.’

Passengers still on board are being asked to follow strict isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. 

According to the UK Government‘s hantavirus advice, symptoms typically appear anywhere from two to four weeks, but can range from two days to eight weeks after exposure, meaning illness may develop in other passengers in the coming days or weeks.

Around 40 per cent of cases result in death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. 

Hantaviruses – a family of viruses – are spread by rodents, in particular through contact with their urine, droppings and saliva.

They are known to cause a range of diseases in humans ranging from mild, flu-like illness to severe respiratory illness or haemorrhagic disease.

 Early symptoms can include fatigue, fever, muscle aches and intense headaches.

They are not usually spread person-to-person and are typically only transferred via bodily fluids and close contact.

The risk of contracting the illness can be reduced through minimising contact with rodents.

Hantavirus was in the news last year, when it was confirmed that actor Gene Hackman’s wife died from the rodent-borne disease. Hackman died of heart disease shortly after.

Laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations are now taking place – with medical care and support provided to passengers and crew, the WHO said.

Images from the MV Hondius show gourmet dining and a dedicated crew before the deadly outbreak sent the voyage into chaos.

The ship’s chef, Khabir Moraes, shared photos on his Facebook of fancy meals and passengers enjoying themselves before the outbreak began.

Data ⁠from maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic shows the ship had been visiting some of the most remote places on Earth, including Tristan da Cunha, an island in the south Atlantic between Argentina and South Africa.

The Hondius left Ushuaia in ⁠southern Argentina ​in March on a voyage marketed ​as an Antarctic nature expedition, with berth prices ranging from 14,000 to 22,000 euros (£12,000 to £19,000). 

The South African Department of Health said the Dutch male passenger suffered fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and died in St Helena while his wife was taken to hospital in the Kempton Park area of South Africa after collapsing at an airport. 

A letter distributed to customers from cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions on Sunday, seen by the Daily Mail, informed them it was ‘awaiting approval’ for passengers to leave the ship.

The letter said: ‘As you are aware, we are responding to several cases of an unidentified virus.

‘We regret to share that, overnight, a guest presenting severe symptoms has passed away.

‘We are currently anchored offshore of Cape Verde and awaiting approval from the Cape Verde authorities to disembark, with priority given to those who require immediate medical care.

‘At this stage, we do not have authorisation from the Cape Verde authorities to disembark.’

The letter went on to advise that all those onboard continue to ‘follow best practices, wear face masks, maintain distancing, and, where possible, minimise contact with fellow guests’.

It added: ‘Please remain assured that we are applying pressure through all available channels, including at the diplomatic level, to provide urgent care to individuals presenting severe symptoms and to ensure all guests aboard can be properly supported within an adequate health screening process.’

However, one passenger told the Daily Mail: ‘We have not heard from Oceanwide at all. We still have friends on the ship.’ 

Speaking on social media, a Turkish passenger on the ship said his ‘Irish friend’ was receiving treatment in South Africa – but that, fortunately, his condition was ‘improving’.

He wrote: ‘Normally, human-to-human transmission is not common. However, we are in a very complicated situation. Please keep us in your thoughts.

‘We will complete this ocean crossing. Since we are not allowed to go ashore in Cape Verde, most likely we will head to the Canary Islands. We hope to be in good condition there.’

The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius marks the fourth cruise ship outbreak this year. 

This follows a record 2025, where 23 reported illnesses reached a 10-year high.

Speaking to the BBC, epidemiologist Michael Baker said the passengers who had the suspected hantavirus would have been infected before boarding the ship due to its long incubation period. 

He said those with symptoms should be ‘rapidly evacuated’ and taken to intensive care units to increase their chances of survival.

The vessel can accommodate around 170 passengers and has some 70 crew members.

The Foreign Office told the Daily Mail: ‘We are closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and stand ready to support British nationals if needed.

‘We are in touch with the cruise company and local authorities.’

Oceanwide Expeditions was contacted for comment.