Twenty-three British nationals are among passengers on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has been denied entry to Cape Verde after a suspected hantavirus outbreak linked to three deaths
There are 23 British nationals trapped aboard the cruise liner at the heart of a fatal virus outbreak that has been linked to three deaths, it has been confirmed.
Two Brits have now fallen ill, including a crew member, after hantavirus was discovered on board the MV Hondius.
Oceanwide Expedition says it is managing a ‘serious medical situation’ aboard the MV Hondius and confirmed 19 passengers plus four crew were from Britain.
Experts believe the rodent-carried virus may have been contracted before holidaymakers embarked on their dream voyage at the ‘End of the World’ in Argentina.
Travellers have been speculating on social media that the tourist initially taken ill had been exploring Patagonia before the cruise departed.
A British holidaymaker, aged 69, who was aboard the ill-fated MV Hondius expedition to Antarctica, is presently in intensive care in Johannesburg but described as ‘critical but stable’.
Two crew members remain unwell and are still aboard – one of whom is also British.
Frightened passengers are currently stranded on the vessel as the port where they were scheduled to disembark in Cape Verde has turned them away.
They have been instructed to wear face masks and maintain distance from fellow travellers. A medical team from Cape Verde, donned in full protective gear, was dispatched to the ship to attend to the ill crew members.
However, Maria da Luz, president of the Cape Verdean Public Health Institute (INSP), has stated that the ship is under quarantine and should “continue its route”, with passengers not permitted to disembark there in order to safeguard the local population, as reported by A Nacao, reports the Mirror.
It’s now thought that the ship will set course for the Canary Islands. In a statement issued on Monday, Oceanwide Expeditions revealed they are still “dealing with a serious medical situation on board the m/v Hondius, which is currently off the coast of Cape Verde.”
They provided a breakdown of passengers and crew, revealing a total of 88 passengers from around the globe and 61 crew members. Of these, 23 were from Great Britain and two hailed from Ireland. They also disclosed that one of the two unwell crew members on board was from Great Britain.
In a brief chronology of events, they noted it began on April 11 when “a passenger died on board”, adding that “the cause of death could not be determined.” They stated: “On April 24, this passenger was disembarked on St Helena, with his wife accompanying the repatriation.
On April 27, Oceanwide Expeditions was informed that the wife had become unwell during the return journey and had later died.
“Both passengers were Dutch nationals. At this time, it has not been confirmed that these two deaths are connected to the current medical situation on board. On 27 April, another passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being treated in the intensive care unit in Johannesburg and is in a critical but stable condition. This passenger is of British nationality. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient.
“On 2 May, another passenger on board died. The cause has not yet been established. This passenger was of German nationality. In addition, there are currently two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality. At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified.”
The cruise operator confirmed that hantavirus “has not currently been confirmed” in the two individuals aboard who need medical attention, “nor has it been established that the virus is connected to the three deaths associated with this voyage.”
The firm added that the cause and potential links are under investigation and that “the only confirmed case of hantavirus is the passenger who was medically evacuated and is now being treated in Johannesburg.”
The travel company confirmed that the vessel remains anchored off the coast of Cape Verde with 149 people aboard from 23 different nations. They stated that local health authorities have visited and evaluated the situation. Regarding future plans, they said: “The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place.
“Strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. All passengers have been informed and are being supported. Oceanwide Expeditions is in close contact with those directly involved and their families, and is providing support where possible.”
Local media in Argentina, where the vessel departed from, indicate urgent investigations are underway to determine where the tourists stayed prior to boarding the 45-day cruise.
The Patagonia region in Argentina has witnessed a Hantavirus outbreak transmitted by long-tailed rodents.
The fatal cases have been rising in more central locations, distant from the port, though it remains unclear whether the tourists participated in any excursions inland before departure.
The number of cases in Argentina has been climbing in recent weeks amid worries about the mortality rate which reached 28 deaths last year. This year, in merely two weeks, four people including a child under 10 died from hantavirus in Buenos Aires province.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.