A cruise ship remains stranded in the Atlantic Ocean after a deadly outbreak of hantavirus on board forced emergency evacuations and raised international health concerns. Three people have already died, several others are seriously ill, and about 150 passengers and crew are still on the vessel.
The Dutch-flagged Hondius is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, awaiting permission to dock in the Canary Islands after being denied entry due to fears over the spread of the virus. Authorities have begun evacuating infected individuals, with three patients including the ship’s doctor being transported to the Netherlands for treatment after their conditions stabilized.
Earlier in the week, two passengers were airlifted to South Africa, one of whom remains in intensive care. Another passenger was tested for the virus after her death. Meanwhile, Swiss officials confirmed that a traveler who had been on the cruise has also tested positive and is receiving care.
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodent waste, but health authorities in South Africa and Switzerland say the strain involved in this outbreak may be capable of human to human transmission. The variant, known as the Andes strain, is most commonly found in parts of South America, including Chile and Argentina, where the cruise began in early April.
The World Health Organization is closely monitoring the situation. Its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that while the outbreak is serious, the overall risk to the wider public remains low at this stage.
Spain has agreed in principle to allow the ship to dock in the Canary Islands following a request from the WHO, although regional officials have voiced concern about the potential health risks. The final decision is expected to come from Spain’s central government.
