Officials in Cape Verde have announced they will not permit a cruise ship suspected of harbouring an outbreak of a rare respiratory virus to dock at its ports, following the deaths of three passengers. The decision was made on Monday, shortly after global health authorities expressed concern over the potential hantavirus outbreak aboard the vessel, which is currently anchored off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean.
The hantavirus, a disease primarily transmitted through rodents, is believed to have killed three individuals, including a married couple from the Netherlands. Additionally, at least two other passengers have fallen ill, and a 69-year-old British tourist has been placed in intensive care in South Africa.
Details of the Incident
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius, reported that the first victim, a Dutch national, died on 11 April. The cause of death could not be determined onboard. The passenger was disembarked on St Helena on 24 April, accompanied by his wife. Shortly after, the woman also became unwell and later died. The company stated that it has not yet been confirmed whether these two deaths are linked to the current medical situation onboard.
On 27 April, a British national became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where he remains in critical but stable condition in a Johannesburg intensive care unit. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in this patient. A third passenger, a German national, died on 2 May, though the cause of death has not been established.
Two crew members, one British and one Dutch, have exhibited acute respiratory symptoms, with one case being severe. Both require urgent medical care. However, hantavirus has not been confirmed in these individuals, and the connection to the deaths is still under investigation.
Response from Authorities
Cape Verde health authorities stated they have been monitoring the situation and will not authorise docking "to protect national public health." They are coordinating with authorities in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom regarding the Dutch-flagged ship. This coordination aims to ensure a swift and safe response, including possible medical evacuation by air ambulance for patients under observation.
Oceanwide Expeditions is considering sailing to Spain's Canary Islands, potentially Las Palmas or Tenerife, for further medical screening and handling. The company has informed all passengers and implemented strict precautionary measures, including isolation protocols, hygiene protocols, and medical monitoring.
Background on Hantavirus
Hantavirus infections are typically spread through contact with infected rodents' urine or faeces and can lead to severe respiratory illness and death. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the situation as a "public health event" but emphasised that the risk to the wider public remains low, with no need for panic or travel restrictions.
South Africa's health department confirmed that two of the victims were a Dutch couple. The 70-year-old man suffered from fever, headaches, and stomach pains before dying onboard. His 69-year-old wife collapsed at an airport while attempting to return to the Netherlands and died at a nearby hospital. South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases is conducting contact tracing in and around Johannesburg to assess potential exposure.
Oceanwide Expeditions is working with Dutch authorities to organise repatriation of the two crew members and the body of the deceased passenger, along with a guest closely associated with the deceased who is not symptomatic. The repatriation depends on authorisation and support from Cape Verdean health authorities.
The UK Foreign Office stated it is closely monitoring reports and is in touch with the cruise company and local authorities. While rare, hantavirus can spread between people, according to the WHO. The virus gained attention last year after the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, from hantavirus infection in New Mexico. In 2019, an outbreak in southern Argentina killed at least nine people, prompting a 30-day quarantine in a remote town.
