British crew member wants ‘urgent’ care after suspected hantavirus outbreak leaves three useless on cruise ship: Latest
A British crew member is in need of “urgent” medical care while another Briton is undergoing treatment in intensive care following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a polar expedition cruise ship in the Atlantic.
The outbreak on the Dutch-flagged vessel MV Hondius, which began a remote expedition voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde on 1 April, has left at least three people dead.
The operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said a Dutch husband and wife as well as a German national had died.
The confirmed cases include a British passenger receiving care in South Africa and a Dutch woman who died on 27 April after disembarking.
The British passenger remains in a “critical but stable” condition after being medically evacuated to South Africa, where they are being treated in intensive care.
The operator said two crew members – one British and one Dutch – were continuing to show “acute respiratory symptoms”, one mild and one severe.
The WHO said a total of seven hantavirus cases – two confirmed and five suspected – had been identified on the cruise ship so far.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
The symptoms of hantavirus can vary depending on its cause, but can be severe in all cases.
HPS, which affects the lungs, typically begins one to eight weeks after exposure. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches — particularly in the thighs, hips, back and shoulders. The symptoms can progress quickly and cause breathing problems as the lungs fill with fluid.
HFRS, which affects the kidneys, typically develops within one to two weeks of exposure, though in some rare cases it can take up to eight weeks. Early symptoms set in suddenly and can include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea and blurred vision.
The WHO has said the virus requires “careful patient monitoring, support and response.”
WHO says there is ‘no need for panic’ as risk to public remains low
Three people have died and two cases of Hanravirus have been confirmed.
The virus is usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, but can spread between people and can lead to severe respiratory illness which can sometimes be fatal.
However, the World Health Organization has said the risk to the wider public remains low.
Hans Henri P Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe said there is “no need for panic or travel restrictions”.
There is no specific treatment or cure, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive medical attention early.
“Strict precautionary measures” are in place on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.
Passengers on the ship instructed to remain inside their cabins
Passengers aboard the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius have been instructed to remain inside their cabins, as operators race to contain a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
A spokesperson for Netherlands-based Oceanwide Expeditions said the precautionary confinement was aimed at limiting any potential spread of the virus.
While human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered rare, concerns persist due to its long incubation period – which can stretch over several weeks, allowing infections to go undetected in the early stages.
Oceanwide Expeditions was trying to arrange the repatriation of two crew members with symptoms of the disease, one British and one Dutch, along with the body of the German national and a “guest closely associated with the deceased” who does not have symptoms.
The company said it was looking into whether passengers could be screened and disembarked on the islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife.
Spanish authorities said they had not yet received a request for the ship to dock and disembark passengers there.
The Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry, which Oceanwide Expeditions said would be the one making the request, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cape Verde officials have sent medical teams to MV Hondius
Officials in Cape Verde have sent a medical team consisting of two doctors, a nurse and a laboratory specialist to the MV Hondius over three trips to help treat individuals with respiratory symptoms after a suspected hantavirus outbreak occurred on the ship, according to Dr. Ann Lindstrand of the World Health Organization.
She told the Associated Press that another individual on the ship was showing mild fever symptoms, but did not offer further details on their condition as of Monday evening.
The medical workers were also assisting two crew members who Oceanwide Expeditions, the owner of the ship, said required urgent medical care.
“Local health authorities have visited the vessel to assess the condition of the two symptomatic individuals,” the company told the Associated Press. “They are yet to make a decision regarding the transfer of these individuals into medical care in Cape Verde.”
Suspected hantavirus outbreak: case-by-case timeline
WHO has outlined the progression of cases linked to the suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, tracing how the illness unfolded among passengers:
Case 1 An adult male developed fever, headache and mild diarrhoea on 6 April while on board. His condition worsened, and by 11 April he developed respiratory distress and died the same day. No microbiological tests were carried out. His body was later removed from the vessel to Saint Helena on 24 April.
Case 2 An adult female, a close contact of Case 1, went ashore in Saint Helena on 24 April with gastrointestinal symptoms. Her condition deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg on 25 April, and she died on arrival at the emergency department on 26 April. On 4 May, PCR testing confirmed hantavirus infection. Contact tracing for passengers on the flight is under way.
Both Case 1 and Case 2 had travelled in South America, including Argentina, before boarding the ship on 1 April.
Case 3 An adult male presented to the ship’s doctor on 24 April with fever, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia. His condition worsened on 26 April, and he was medically evacuated from Ascension to South Africa on 27 April, where he remains in intensive care. Initial respiratory pathogen tests were negative, but PCR testing confirmed hantavirus infection on 2 May. Further analysis, including sequencing, is ongoing.
Case 4 An adult female developed symptoms on 28 April, including fever and general malaise, consistent with pneumonia. She died on 2 May.
Other suspected cases Three additional suspected cases have reported high fever and/or gastrointestinal symptoms and remain on board. Medical teams in Cabo Verde are assessing these patients and collecting further samples for testing.
Map shows journey of the MV Hondius
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When did hantavirus start in the west?
Hantavirus first emerged in the west in 1993 in the southeastern U.S.
The 1993 outbreak was initially believed to be a mystery flu before researchers determined the illness was actually a novel strain of hantavirus.
The disease was linked to rodents living near the homes of the people who fell ill in 1993. Since then, exposure to the saliva, feces, and urine of rodents has been recognized as the primary means of hantavirus transmission.
Most hantavirus strains rarely transmit between humans, though one strain — the Andes virus — can leap from human to human, according to the New York Times.
Seven cases of hantavirus identified on cruise ship, WHO says
The World Health Organisation says that seven cases of hantavirus have been identified as part of the outbreak on a luxury cruise ship held off West Africa carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers.
“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,” the WHO said.
The WHO said it was working with local authorities and cruise operator Oceanwide on a “full public health risk assessment.”
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing, and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said.
“Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew.”
WATCH: What is hantavirus? Infectious disease expert explains after cruise ship deaths
British foreign office says consular teams active in UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal
The government says consular teams from the foreign office have been activated across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals caught up in the cruise ship outbreak.
“This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak,” it said in a statement.
It added that “we are working around the clock with our international partners, including the cruise ship operator”.
“FCDO teams are also in contact with the family of a British man who was a passenger on the ship and is now in hospital in South Africa.”
Source: independent.co.uk
