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3d ago

WHO Says Cruise Ship Hantavirus Cluster Reaches 7 as Evacuations Readied Off Cape Verde

WHO now suspects limited spread between close contacts on board, pointing to an unusual pattern for a rodent-borne virus.

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Left: Jake Rosmarin, who is on board the ship. Right: A general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026.
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TOPSHOT - This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa's health ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • At a Tuesday WHO briefing, officials said two ill crew members are being prepared for medical evacuation and that person-to-person spread among close contacts is suspected.
  • The outbreak stands at seven identified cases with two laboratory confirmations and three deaths, including a Dutch woman and a German passenger, with a British patient in intensive care in Johannesburg.
  • Illness began between April 6 and April 28 with fever and stomach symptoms that, in severe cases, progressed quickly to pneumonia, respiratory failure and shock.
  • The Dutch‑flagged MV Hondius remains held offshore near Cape Verde with about 147 to 150 people on board, and passengers have been instructed to isolate in their cabins while Dutch teams organize medevacs using specialized aircraft.
  • WHO says the working assumption is that the first couple was infected before boarding in Argentina, and investigators are testing for the Andes variant as plans advance to sail to Spain’s Canary Islands for full screening and disinfection pending Spanish approval, with contact tracing under way for a Saint Helena–Johannesburg flight.