Cruise ship with suspected hantavirus outbreak is anchored off Cape Verde after three deaths

A cruise ship carrying around 150 tourists is currently off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on board that has already caused three deaths, according to information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the BBC.

The ship MV Hondius, operated by the company Oceanwide Expeditions, was bound for Cape Verde, after a voyage that began in Argentina at the end of March. The vessel remains anchored in Cape Verdean waters while the national authorities assess the health situation and decide on the next steps.

The Cape Verdean health authorities have already carried out inspections on board and are monitoring two crew members with symptoms that require urgent medical attention. However, so far the evacuation of these patients for treatment on national territory has not been authorized, a decision that is generating pressure from the cruise operator.

The outbreak so far involves one confirmed case of hantavirus - a 69-year-old British citizen who is in critical condition in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg, South Africa - as well as several suspected cases under investigation.

A Dutch couple are among the dead. The 70-year-old man fell ill during the journey and died after arriving on the island of St. Helena. His 69-year-old wife also showed symptoms and died in a hospital in South Africa. A third death has been reported, and the possible link to the virus is still under investigation.

The Dutch authorities are coordinating the repatriation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as the body of one of the victims who remains on board. This process depends on authorization from the Cape Verdean authorities, putting the country at the center of operational and health decisions related to the incident.

Hantavirus is transmitted mainly through the inhalation of contaminated particles from rodent feces or urine. In more severe cases, it can cause severe respiratory syndromes with a significant mortality rate. There is currently no specific treatment and intensive medical monitoring is essential.

The WHO reported that additional laboratory investigations are underway, including sequencing of the virus, while it coordinates with Cape Verde and other countries involved on response measures and risk assessment for passengers and crew.

The situation places Cape Verde in a critical international health management position, at a time when the country serves as a point of arrival for the ship and a potential gateway for public health risks.