HANTAVIRUS: POSSIBLE HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION ABOARD THE MV HONDIUS

Three deaths and seven cases recorded

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday 5 May that it suspected "human-to-human transmission" among people infected with hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship stranded off Cape Verde. The outbreak has claimed three lives.

According to the WHO bulletin, seven cases have been identified: two confirmed in the laboratory and five suspected. In addition to the three deaths, one patient is in critical condition in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa, and three people are still on board. The MV Hondius, which was sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Cape Verde archipelago, still had 147 people on board.

Incubation period

"Given the length of the hantavirus incubation period, which can vary from one to six weeks, we assume they were infected outside the ship," Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO's epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention department, told reporters. She added that she believed "there may be human-to-human transmission among people in very close contact."

Transmission between humans has so far been considered very rare. Hantavirus is usually transmitted by inhaling particles from the urine, saliva or droppings of infected rodents. Its pulmonary form is fatal in 30 to 40% of cases. No medication is available to treat the infection.

Port of call still undetermined

Turned away from the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, the ship may head for the Spanish Canary Islands archipelago, according to cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions. Madrid, however, denied the report. The Spanish Ministry of Health said on Tuesday morning that Spain will take "no decision" on docking until "the epidemiological data" has been analysed.

"Based on the epidemiological data that will be collected on the ship during its passage through Cape Verde, it will be decided which port of call is most appropriate. Until then, the Ministry of Health will adopt no decision, as we have informed the World Health Organization," the ministry said on X.

First death on 11 April

The WHO was informed on Saturday of the presence on board of passengers suffering from a serious respiratory illness. The first suspected case is that of a 70-year-old Dutch man who, on 6 April, "presented symptoms of fever, headache and mild diarrhoea on board the ship." His condition worsened on 11 April and he died the same day. No microbiological test was carried out.

Oceanwide Expeditions explained that his body had been disembarked on the island of Saint Helena, in the United Kingdom, on 24 April. His wife, aged 69, was with him. Presenting gastrointestinal symptoms, she re-embarked the following day by plane for Johannesburg, where she was hospitalised before dying on 26 April. Her hantavirus infection was only confirmed on Monday.

A British passenger hospitalised

A first confirmed case had previously been attested in a British passenger, also disembarked and placed in intensive care in Johannesburg. A search has been launched to track down passengers on the flight between Saint Helena and Johannesburg taken by the sick Dutch woman, the WHO added.

Medical teams have boarded the vessel to examine the sick. In a statement published Monday, Oceanwide Expeditions said it was applying "strict precautionary measures" and "isolation" on the ship.

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2026-05-05T19:36:29Z