Cruise Ship Deaths Spark Health Alert — Here’s What You Need to Know About Hantavirus
Three passengers have died and three others have fallen ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
The Netherlands-based vessel, MV Hondius, left Argentina about three weeks ago with around 150 passengers. It travelled to Antarctica before heading towards Cape Verde, where the situation escalated.
Authorities confirmed that two of the dead passengers were Dutch nationals. One of the sick passengers, believed to be British, is in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Cape Verde officials have not allowed sick passengers to disembark for treatment. Meanwhile, Dutch authorities are working to evacuate two ill passengers and repatriate a body.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is coordinating the response, including medical evacuations and risk assessments for those still on board.
Here’s what you need to know about hantavirus:
It is a virus spread mainly by rodents.
People can get infected by breathing in particles from rodent urine or droppings.
Human-to-human transmission is rare.
Symptoms start like flu but can quickly become severe, affecting the lungs and heart.
Around 40% of cases can be fatal.
There is no specific cure—treatment focuses on managing symptoms.
Tests have confirmed hantavirus in one patient, while five more suspected cases are still under investigation. Experts are also conducting further tests to identify the exact strain.
