Apparent hantavirus outbreak kills 3 on cruise ship, sickens at least 3 more, health officials say

A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has caused concern, with three people reported dead and at least three others sickened, according to the World Health Organization and South Africa’s Department of Health. The WHO confirmed at least one case of hantavirus on the ship and reported that one patient was in intensive care in a South African hospital. Efforts were underway to evacuate two other individuals with symptoms from the vessel.

The Dutch foreign ministry and the ship’s operator were coordinating efforts to medically evacuate the sick individuals from the ship, which was anchored off the coast of Cape Verde. However, local authorities had not allowed anyone to disembark from the ship. The WHO reassured the public that the risk of wider transmission was low and advised against panic or travel restrictions.

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses primarily spread through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents like rats and mice. They can cause two serious syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which affects the kidneys. While rare, hantavirus infections can be transmitted between people, and early medical intervention can improve survival rates.

The cruise ship involved in the outbreak, the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, had departed from Argentina three weeks prior and was on a route that included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other destinations before heading towards Spain’s Canary Islands. The victims of the outbreak included a 70-year-old man who died on the ship, his wife who passed away in a South African hospital, and a British national who was in intensive care in Johannesburg.

Efforts were underway to conduct a full public health risk assessment on the ship and provide support for those still onboard. Contact tracing was also being carried out in the Johannesburg region to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the infected passengers in South Africa.

The situation remains under control, with Cape Verde health officials stating that there is no risk to people on land. The cruise ship has not been allowed to dock at the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, as authorities continue to assess the condition of the sick individuals onboard. Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the cruise, stated that their priority was to ensure that the two crew members in need of medical care received appropriate treatment.