A rare strain of hantavirus capable of spreading between people has been detected in passengers connected to a deadly outbreak aboard a Dutch cruise ship traveling across the Atlantic.
Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship in Spain
South African health officials confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus was identified in two passengers who were medically evacuated from the MV Hondius after falling ill during the voyage.
The outbreak has already claimed the lives of three passengers since the ship departed from Argentina nearly a month ago. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three additional symptomatic individuals were evacuated to the Netherlands on Wednesday for further medical treatment.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the overall public health risk remains low, despite ongoing monitoring efforts involving passengers and individuals who have already disembarked from the vessel.
Dutch authorities identified the evacuated passengers as a 56-year-old British citizen, a 41-year-old Dutch national, and a 65-year-old German traveler. Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two of the evacuees were crew members, including the ship’s doctor, while the third was a passenger linked to a German traveler who died onboard last week.The WHO also confirmed that a Swiss passenger who had returned to Switzerland after the cruise is currently receiving treatment for hantavirus in a hospital in Zurich.Approximately 150 passengers and crew members remain aboard the MV Hondius under strict precautionary measures. The vessel is anchored near Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa and is expected to continue toward the Canary Islands, where passengers may eventually be allowed to disembark.
Spanish officials said all passengers and crew would undergo medical examinations upon arrival before beginning their journeys home. Interactions with travelers from the ship would take place in designated areas and specialized transport systems designed to minimize contact with the local population and protect healthcare personnel.
