Cape Verde: Three people have died, and three others have fallen ill following a suspected outbreak of Hantavirus on a Netherlands-based cruise ship, according to authorities and media reports.
The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was sailing near Cape Verde when the suspected hantavirus outbreak was identified. The company confirmed it is managing a ‘serious medical situation’ aboard its polar expedition ship, the MV Hondius.
The cruise departed from Argentina around three weeks ago with approximately 150 passengers on board. During the voyage, the ship visited Antarctica and several other locations before heading toward Cape Verde.
WHO is aware of and supporting a public health event involving a cruise vessel sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases. Of the six affected individuals, three have died… pic.twitter.com/SqMAAZzoID
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 3, 2026
A spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of the deceased passengers were Dutch nationals, although further details were not disclosed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that one of the infected individuals is currently in intensive care in South Africa. Reports citing local health authorities indicated that the patient is British. WHO also confirmed that laboratory testing has identified hantavirus in one of the six affected individuals, and investigations into the hantavirus outbreak are ongoing.
Oceanwide Expeditions said that authorities in Cape Verde have not yet permitted passengers requiring urgent medical care to disembark. Dutch authorities are working to arrange the repatriation of two symptomatic passengers, along with the body of a deceased individual affected in the suspected hantavirus outbreak.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that spreads when particles from rodent urine or droppings become airborne, such as during cleaning of enclosed spaces inhabited by rodents. According to WHO, hantavirus transmission between humans is rare but possible in certain circumstances.
The illness caused by hantavirus typically begins with flu-like symptoms but can rapidly progress to severe respiratory and cardiac complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hantavirus infections have a fatality rate of around 40 percent. There are no specific antiviral treatments for hantavirus, and care is mainly supportive, including the use of ventilators in critical cases.
WHO stated that it is facilitating coordination between member states and the ship’s operator to enable medical evacuation of the two symptomatic passengers, conduct a full public health risk assessment, and provide support to the remaining passengers onboard amid the hantavirus outbreak.
The British Foreign Office and South Africa’s Department of Health had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the suspected hantavirus situation.
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