The Victims
Three people have died and one is in intensive care in South Africa after a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship sailing across the Atlantic, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Sunday. The WHO told Agence France-Presse that one case of hantavirus infection had been laboratory-confirmed, with five additional suspected cases among the six people affected.
The first person to fall ill was a 70-year-old male passenger who died on board the MV Hondius. His body is currently on the island of Saint Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, according to Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for South Africa’s health ministry. His 69-year-old wife also developed symptoms on the ship and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a Johannesburg hospital. A source close to the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the couple were Dutch nationals, although their nationalities have not been officially established.
A third fatality remained on board the ship as of Sunday evening. Meanwhile, a 69-year-old British national, who was also evacuated to Johannesburg, is being treated in intensive care. A further two passengers with symptoms are under observation, with discussions under way about whether they should be placed in isolation in a hospital in Cape Verde, the anonymous source said.
Hantavirus: Transmission and Symptoms
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause severe illness and death in humans, the WHO and health authorities explain. The infection typically leads to one of two syndromes: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) or Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). HPS, which is more common in the Americas, can have a mortality rate as high as 60% in some outbreaks, while HFRS, seen more often in Europe and Asia, kills between 1% and 12% of those infected.
The virus is usually transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents. The most common route of infection is inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent excreta that become aerosolised when disturbed. Less frequently, the virus can be spread by touching contaminated materials and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth, or through a rodent bite. Although human-to-human transmission is exceptionally rare, it has been documented in a small number of cases.
Symptoms of HPS typically appear one to five weeks after exposure and begin with fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches. The illness can progress rapidly to difficulty breathing, coughing and a feeling of chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid. HFRS symptoms, which usually develop within one to two weeks but can take up to eight weeks, include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, rash and red eyes. In later stages, patients may experience low blood pressure, shock and acute kidney failure.
There is no specific vaccine or cure for hantavirus infection. Treatment is supportive and often requires intensive care, including oxygen therapy, fluid replacement and medications to maintain blood pressure. Antiviral drugs such as ribavirin may be used in severe cases, although their effectiveness is not definitively proven. Recovery can take weeks to months.
Ship’s Status and International Response
The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, a polar expedition vessel operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 20 March 2026 for a repositioning voyage north after the Antarctic season. Its itinerary included stops at South Georgia and Saint Helena, and it was scheduled to arrive in Cape Verde on 4 May 2026.
As of Sunday evening, the MV Hondius was positioned off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. The ship can accommodate approximately 170 passengers and has a crew of about 70. It is equipped with Zodiac boats for shore landings and tendering.
The WHO said it is “facilitating coordination” between national authorities and the ship’s operators to organise the medical evacuation of two passengers with symptoms. After potential isolation in Cape Verde, the ship is expected to continue to Spain’s Canary Islands. The UK Foreign Office said it is “closely monitoring reports of a potential hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius and stand ready to support British nationals if needed. We are in touch with the cruise company and local authorities.” Oceanwide Expeditions has not responded to requests for comment.
