CAPE TOWN: A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus infection aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left at least three others ill, prompting an international public health response, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Africa’s Department of Health.
Health officials confirmed that at least one case of hantavirus has been laboratory verified, while investigations remain ongoing to determine the full extent of the outbreak.
One patient is currently in intensive care at a hospital in South Africa, while efforts are underway to evacuate two additional individuals exhibiting symptoms from the vessel.
According to AP, the ship, identified as the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, where local authorities have restricted disembarkation as a precautionary measure.
According to the vessel’s operator, two crew members onboard require urgent medical attention, and discussions with local health officials are ongoing regarding their transfer for treatment.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents, particularly via their urine, droppings, or saliva.
The virus can lead to severe conditions, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a life-threatening respiratory illness, and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which affects the kidneys.
Although human-to-human transmission is uncommon, WHO has cautioned that it is possible in certain cases.
The organisation stressed that there is currently no specific cure or targeted antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections. However, early medical intervention can significantly improve survival outcomes.
“WHO is aware of and supporting a public health event involving a cruise vessel sailing in the Atlantic Ocean,” the agency said in a statement.
“Detailed laboratory and epidemiological investigations are ongoing, including genetic sequencing of the virus. Medical care and support are being provided to both passengers and crew.”
The ill-fated voyage began approximately three weeks ago in Argentina and included stops in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and other remote locations. The ship was ultimately scheduled to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
South African authorities provided details of the fatalities. The first victim, a 70-year-old man, died aboard the ship. His body was later removed when the vessel docked at Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic.
His wife subsequently collapsed at an airport in South Africa while attempting to return to the Netherlands and later died in hospital.
A third fatality has also been reported, with the body still onboard the ship as it remains off Cape Verde. Officials have not yet released further details about this individual.
The patient currently receiving intensive care in Johannesburg is a British national who reportedly fell ill after the vessel departed Saint Helena, near Ascension Island. The individual was evacuated to South Africa for advanced medical treatment.
At the time of the outbreak, approximately 150 passengers were onboard the ship, along with an estimated 70 crew members, according to travel operators. The vessel is known for its specialised polar expeditions.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the cruise, stated that ensuring the safety and medical care of those onboard remains its top priority.
“Local health authorities have assessed the condition of the symptomatic individuals,” the company said, adding that a decision regarding their transfer for treatment is still pending.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases has initiated contact tracing procedures in the Johannesburg area to identify any individuals who may have been exposed to infected passengers during transit.
WHO, in coordination with national authorities and the cruise operator, is conducting a comprehensive public health risk assessment to determine the potential for further spread and to guide containment measures.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over infectious disease management on cruise ships, particularly those operating in remote and environmentally challenging regions.
