Three people have died and a British national is in intensive care following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde, the World Health Organization has confirmed.
The victims include a 70-year-old and a 69-year-old Dutch husband and wife who became ill on board and were taken off the ship. The body of a third Dutch individual remains on the vessel.
A 69-year-old British national is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the only confirmed case of hantavirus so far. Two crew members are also sick and require urgent care, according to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
The MV Hondius cruise ship, carrying about 150 passengers, is currently anchored off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. The ship has been stationary for at least 24 hours.
According to local media, the president of the Cape Verdean Public Health Institute has said that passengers will not disembark on the archipelago to protect the local population. The cruise operator confirmed that “no authorization” has been granted for those requiring medical care to disembark.
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Infections can also occur through rodent bites or scratches, though human-to-human transmission is rare.
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infections. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends supportive care, including oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and dialysis. Patients with severe symptoms may need intensive care.
Epidemiologist Michael Baker told the BBC that passengers would have been infected before boarding due to the virus’s long incubation period, which can range from one to eight weeks. He said it is “very unusual” for people to develop the disease on a cruise ship.
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles told the BBC it is unclear how people were exposed to the virus, adding that food could have been contaminated. She warned that with the long incubation period, more cases could emerge in the coming days and weeks.
