Seven British nationals were among 30 passengers who disembarked from the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship at St Helena after a Dutch man died onboard, with his wife later succumbing to hantavirus. The revelation came as the cruise operator confirmed the details of the ill-fated voyage, which has now claimed three lives.
Timeline of the Outbreak
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, with 114 guests onboard. On April 11, a 69-year-old Dutch passenger died. His body and his wife, also 69, were disembarked at St Helena on April 24. Tragically, the wife later developed hantavirus symptoms after flying to South Africa and died. A third passenger, a German national, died on May 2.
According to the operator, 30 passengers left the ship at St Helena on April 24, including the body of the first victim. The first confirmed hantavirus case was not reported until May 4. All disembarked passengers have been contacted by the company.
British Passengers and Evacuations
Among the British passengers, two are now in isolation back in the UK, while the status of the other five remains unknown. One Briton, Martin Anstee, 56, a former police officer and wildlife photographer, was evacuated to Amsterdam on Wednesday along with three others. He is currently stable and undergoing tests in isolation. Speaking to Sky News, Anstee said: "I'm doing okay. I'm not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done." He described the trip as a "trip of a lifetime" before falling ill.
Another British passenger remains in intensive care in South Africa after testing positive for hantavirus. The UK Health Security Agency's chief scientific officer, Prof Robin May, confirmed the patient is "doing well."
Other Cases and Monitoring
A Dutch flight attendant who had contact with the woman who died in Johannesburg is being tested for hantavirus after showing mild symptoms. She is in isolation in Amsterdam. In the United States, people in at least three states—Georgia, California, and New York—are being monitored for potential infections, though none have shown symptoms.
Authorities in Argentina are investigating whether the first Dutch couple contracted the virus during a bird-watching trip near a landfill site in Ushuaia, where infected rats may have been present.
Current Status of the Ship
The MV Hondius left Cape Verde on Wednesday evening and is sailing for Granadilla in Tenerife, a journey expected to take three to four days. Oceanwide Expeditions stated: "No symptomatic individuals are present on board. We remain in close discussion with authorities regarding arrival, quarantine, and screening procedures."
US travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, who remains onboard, updated followers: "Great news. En route to the Canary Islands." He refuted claims of poor hygiene, stating the vessel maintains high cleaning standards and biosecurity protocols.
