A growing hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius has triggered international concern after confirmed and suspected infections were reported among passengers and crew from several countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), eight cases have so far been confirmed, while two others are being treated as probable infections. Three deaths have also been reported, including two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus fatalities and one probable case.
Health authorities worldwide are continuing to investigate additional suspected cases as well as close contacts linked to those infected.
Netherlands
Two Dutch nationals linked to the ship have died from the virus, while another Dutch citizen was confirmed infected.
The first victims were a Dutch couple who had travelled through South America before boarding the vessel in Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1.
The 70-year-old husband reportedly developed symptoms on April 6 before dying on April 11. His body was removed from the ship during a stopover at Saint Helena in the South Atlantic between April 22 and 24.
Although no hantavirus test was conducted on him, WHO classified the case as probable.
His 69-year-old wife later disembarked in Saint Helena after falling ill. Her condition deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg on April 25 and she died in hospital the following day. Tests confirmed hantavirus infection on May 4.
A third Dutch-linked case involved the ship’s doctor, who began showing symptoms on April 30. He tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus on May 6 and was transferred to the Netherlands for treatment after the vessel stopped in Cape Verde. He is reported to be in stable condition while undergoing isolation treatment.
Britain
Three British-linked cases have also emerged, including two confirmed infections and one probable case.
One British man fell ill on April 24 with fever and pneumonia symptoms before being evacuated from Ascension Island in the Atlantic to South Africa for intensive care treatment three days later.
His hantavirus infection was confirmed on May 2, with genetic sequencing identifying the Andes strain.
Another British man working as a tour guide aboard the ship developed symptoms on April 27 and later tested positive on May 6. He was transferred to the Netherlands from Cape Verde on May 7 and remains stable in isolation.
A third British man left the ship on April 14 at Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, where he was isolated for treatment after reporting symptoms on April 28. WHO currently classifies him as a probable case pending laboratory results.
British authorities reportedly deployed military parachute personnel and medical officers to deliver emergency medical supplies to the remote island.
Germany
A German woman who initially developed fever on April 28 later suffered pneumonia symptoms before dying aboard the ship on May 2.
Post-mortem samples sent to the Netherlands later confirmed infection with the Andes strain of hantavirus.
Her body reportedly remains aboard the Hondius, which is scheduled to sail to the Netherlands from Tenerife, Spain.
Switzerland
A Swiss man left the cruise ship in Saint Helena on April 22 before travelling back to Switzerland via South Africa and Qatar on April 27.
He developed symptoms on May 1 after returning home and later tested positive for the Andes strain on May 5 while receiving isolation treatment.
France
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist confirmed that a French woman repatriated from the ship began feeling unwell late on May 10 and subsequently tested positive for hantavirus.
United States
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, one of 17 Americans repatriated from the vessel tested weakly positive through PCR testing, while another individual developed mild symptoms linked to the virus.
The outbreak has raised concerns among global health authorities due to the rare but potentially deadly nature of the Andes strain, which has been associated with severe respiratory complications.
