A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean kills 3 people

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — An alleged outbreak of the uncommon hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including an elderly couple, and the illness of at least three others, as confirmed by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health of South Africa.

The WHO stated in a press release to The Associated Press that an investigation is currently underway, with one confirmed case of hantavirus. One patient is in critical condition in a hospital in South Africa, while efforts are being made to evacuate two others displaying symptoms from the ship.

The cruise ship, operated by a Dutch company, is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, an island nation in West Africa. Local authorities are providing assistance but have prohibited any disembarkation. The two individuals onboard in need of urgent medical attention are crew members.

Hantaviruses, present worldwide, are a group of viruses primarily transmitted through contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents such as rats and mice. They garnered attention following the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, from hantavirus infection in New Mexico last year.

Hackman himself passed away a week later at their residence due to heart disease.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantaviruses can cause two severe syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome affecting the lungs, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome affecting the kidneys.

Although rare, WHO mentioned that hantavirus infections can be transmitted between individuals. While there is no specific treatment or cure, prompt medical attention can enhance survival rates.

WHO stated, “WHO is monitoring and supporting a public health incident involving a cruise ship traveling in the Atlantic Ocean. In-depth investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory tests and epidemiological studies. Medical assistance and care are being provided to passengers and crew. Virus sequencing is also in progress.”

The South African Department of Health revealed that the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius departed from Argentina approximately three weeks ago for a cruise itinerary that included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other destinations. Its final destination was intended to be Spain’s Canary Islands across the Atlantic.

The initial casualty, a 70-year-old male, passed away on the ship, with his body being transported in the British territory of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, as stated by the South African health department. His wife collapsed at a South African airport while attempting to board a flight to the Netherlands, her home country, and subsequently died at a nearby hospital.

The individual in critical condition in a Johannesburg hospital, identified by the department as a British citizen, fell ill near Ascension Island, another remote Atlantic island, after departing from Saint Helena and was later transferred to South Africa.

At the time of the outbreak, the ship housed around 150 tourists, according to South Africa’s health department. Various online tour operators mentioned that the Hondius, a specialized polar cruise vessel, typically accommodates about 70 crew members.

Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the cruise, confirmed that the body of the third victim remains on the ship in Cape Verde, prioritizing medical care for the two ailing crew members.

The company stated, “Local health authorities have inspected the vessel to evaluate the condition of the two symptomatic individuals. A decision regarding their transfer to medical facilities in Cape Verde is pending.”

WHO mentioned its collaboration with national authorities and the ship’s operators in conducting a comprehensive “public health risk assessment” and providing assistance to those still onboard.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases is engaged in contact tracing in the Johannesburg area to determine potential exposure of other individuals to the infected passengers in South Africa.