Three dead as Hantavirus spreads aboard Atlantic cruise ship

Three passengers have died following a suspected Hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius, a Dutch-operated polar cruise ship currently transiting the Atlantic Ocean. The World Health Organization confirmed one laboratory-verified case of Hantavirus, with five additional suspected cases under active investigation.

The vessel departed Ushuaia, Argentina on March 20 and was scheduled to complete its voyage in Cape Verde on May 4. According to South African health authorities, the first symptomatic passenger was a 70-year-old man who died while still on board. His remains are now stored on Saint Helena, a British territory in the South Atlantic.

The patient’s 69-year-old wife fell ill during the voyage and was evacuated to South Africa, where she subsequently died at a Johannesburg hospital. A 69-year-old British passenger was also airlifted to Johannesburg and remains hospitalized in intensive care.

Hantavirus typically transmits through environmental exposure, primarily from contact with rodent urine or feces. Human-to-human transmission occurs rarely but can trigger severe respiratory complications. The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, measures 107.6 meters in length and accommodates 170 passengers across 80 cabins.

The WHO is currently coordinating between member states and ship operators to facilitate medical evacuation of two additional symptomatic passengers. Health officials are conducting a comprehensive public health risk assessment and providing medical support to the remaining 168 people aboard.

The outbreak comes as cruise ships continue recovering post-pandemic, with multiple vessels reporting communicable disease incidents in recent months. Oceanwide Expeditions has not yet issued public comment regarding the incident or modifications to the voyage schedule.