Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Claims Three Lives En Route to Cape Verde

A serious medical situation has unfolded aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, as it sails the Atlantic. The World Health Organization has confirmed one case of hantavirus and suspects five others among passengers en route from Argentina to Cape Verde. Tragically, three passengers have already succumbed to the illness, including a Dutch couple. Another passenger, a British citizen, is in intensive care in South Africa with a confirmed infection.

The ship, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina, nearly three weeks ago, is now anchored near Praia, Cape Verde. Local authorities are working with the ship's operator to manage the medical emergency, including coordinating medical checks and the potential disembarkation of passengers. Two crew members are also reported to need urgent medical attention, but permission to go ashore has not yet been granted.

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we have encountered a serious medical situation

Hantavirus, typically spread through rodents, can cause severe respiratory illness. While human-to-human transmission is rare, the situation aboard the MV Hondius underscores the risks associated with close quarters in a travel environment. The Dutch passengers' deaths, one occurring after arrival on St. Helena Island and the other after evacuation to South Africa, highlight the severity of the outbreak. The repatriation of the third deceased passenger is also being arranged.

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he has the virus confirmed