Three Die in Suspected Virus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

A deadly illness has struck a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic, leaving three people dead and prompting an international public health response after one passenger was confirmed to have hantavirus, a disease most often passed to humans by rodents.

The cases emerged aboard the MV Hondius during a voyage from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde, off Africa’s west coast.

“To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

“Of the six affected individuals, three have died and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa.”

The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a group of viruses that can trigger haemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said.

Six passengers aboard the MV Hondius, seen off Cape Verde, became ill

In its statement, the WHO said: “Hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure (exposure to infected rodents’ urine or faeces).

“While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response.”

The first known patient to show symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger. He died on board, and his body was on Saint Helena, the British territory in the South Atlantic, spokesman Mr Mohale said.

His 69-year-old wife also became ill during the voyage and was airlifted to South Africa, where she later died in a Johannesburg hospital, he said, adding that officials were not yet in a position to confirm the victims’ nationalities.

A source close to the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a Dutch couple were believed to be among those who died. The third person who died remained on board the vessel.

The fourth case, involving a 69-year-old Briton, also led to an evacuation to Johannesburg, where he was receiving treatment in intensive care.

The cruise ship had been sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of Africa (Pic: Bing Maps)

Talks were continuing over whether two other unwell passengers should be isolated in hospital in Cape Verde before the ship resumes its journey to Spain’s Canary Islands, the anonymous source said.

The WHO said it was “facilitating coordination” between national authorities and the ship’s operator to arrange the medical evacuation of two passengers showing symptoms.

The MV Hondius is described as a polar cruise ship on the websites of several travel agencies. It is operated by Dutch-based tour company Oceanwide Expeditions.

One advertised itinerary shows the vessel leaving Ushuaia for Cape Verde, with calls at South Georgia and Saint Helena along the way.

According to several online ship-tracking websites, the MV Hondius was just off Praia, Cape Verde’s capital, today.

The ship has capacity for about 170 passengers and carries roughly 70 crew members.

People can contract hantaviruses through contact with infected mice or rats, their droppings, bites, or by inhaling contaminated dust.

Different strains of hantavirus circulate in various parts of the world and can cause different symptoms.