CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A cruise ship carrying nearly 150 individuals is currently waiting for assistance off the coast of Cape Verde. This situation arises after three passengers perished and at least three others fell seriously ill, presumably due to an outbreak of the rare hantavirus, as reported by the World Health Organization and the ship’s operators.
The vessel, named MV Hondius, is on a lengthy polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica and stopped at Cape Verde. Although it sought aid from local health authorities, no one has been permitted to leave the ship, according to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Netherlands-based operator.
Cape Verde’s Health Ministry announced that the ship is not allowed to dock due to health concerns, and it will remain in open waters close to the shore.
Hantavirus, a disease transmitted through contact with rodents or their waste, is relatively rare but can also spread between humans, as noted by the WHO.
It remains unclear how this outbreak initiated, and WHO is investigating while coordinating the evacuation of two crew members who are ill. Another affected individual, a British man evacuated to South Africa, tested positive for hantavirus and is currently in critical condition in intensive care.
Among those who died, one was German, whose body remains on board, while a 70-year-old Dutch man died on April 11, followed by his 69-year-old wife, who died later in South Africa after leaving the ship. Her blood was subsequently found to be positive for the virus, making her one of the confirmed cases.
The remaining passengers, numbering 87, include 17 Americans, 19 British, and 13 Spaniards, along with 61 crew members.
Cruise operator states urgent medical care needed for two crew members
Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, are reportedly suffering respiratory symptoms and require immediate medical attention, according to Oceanwide’s statement.
A medical team from Cape Verde, consisting of two doctors, a nurse, and a laboratory specialist, has visited the ship three times, as shared by Dr. Ann Lindstrand, a WHO official in Cape Verde. They are preparing for potential medical evacuations, where patients would be transferred to an airport via ambulance.
Dr. Lindstrand expressed the difficulties Cape Verdean authorities face, emphasizing the public health dimensions involved.
If passengers cannot be evacuated in Cape Verde, Oceanwide is considering sailing to one of the Spanish islands, like Tenerife or Las Palmas.
The WHO is collaborating with local authorities and Oceanwide to assess the public health risks involved thoroughly.
Ongoing investigations are taking place, which include further laboratory tests and epidemiological studies. Medical support is being extended to both passengers and crew members.
Dr. Lindstrand mentioned the possibility of a new case on board, involving someone exhibiting mild fever symptoms, but assessments are ongoing.
The cruise began in Argentina
The MV Hondius set sail from Ushuaia in Argentina on April 1. Health officials confirmed that no passengers displayed symptoms of hantavirus at the time of departure. However, the incubation period for symptoms can extend up to eight weeks, leading experts to consider the possibility that passengers may have contracted the illness prior to boarding.
Despite the province’s historical absence of hantavirus cases, other regions in Argentina have experienced outbreaks, leading to a significant number of fatalities last year.
During the cruise, Oceanwide has not provided details about the itinerary, although they market 33- and 43-night “Atlantic Odyssey” cruises. The vessel accommodates 170 passengers across 80 cabins and is typically staffed by about 70 crew members, including a doctor.
The first casualty was the Dutch passenger who exhibited severe symptoms but was only removed from the ship nearly two weeks later, far off the African coast, awaiting repatriation. His wife later succumbed to the virus in South Africa after collapsing at the airport.
Contact tracing has commenced, but authorities advise against panic
Authorities have not yet identified the source of the outbreak. A previous hantavirus incident in southern Argentina in 2019 resulted in nine deaths, leading officials to impose restrictions on residents of affected areas.
South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases is actively tracing contacts to see if others might have been exposed to those infected. The deceased Dutch woman was attempting to reach the Netherlands when she collapsed.
Despite these developments, health officials stress that there is no cause for alarm, pointing out that the WHO is coordinating efforts across all impacted regions to prevent further spread of the virus.
There is currently no specific treatment for hantavirus, but prompt medical attention can significantly improve recovery chances.
Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge from the WHO reassured the public that while the virus is severe in certain cases, it is not easily transmissible between individuals and emphasized that the general public’s risk remains low.
