The World Health Organization (WHO) said a suspected hathavirus outbreak is being investigated on the luxury yacht MV Hondius, currently anchored off Cape Verde, West Africa. The incident killed 3 people, while some passengers and crew members need emergency medical care.
According to WHO, as of May 4, authorities recorded 7 cases of hantavirus infection or suspected infection on ships, including 2 cases confirmed by laboratories and 5 suspected cases. Among these, there were 3 deaths, one patient in critical condition and 3 people with mild symptoms.
MV Hondius departed from southern Argentina in March, carrying 149 people from 23 countries. The ship was mainly passengers from England, the United States and Spain. The ship is currently detained off Santiago Island, Cape Verde, after many people on board were sick. On May 4, Cape Verde health officials said they did not allow the ship to dock, in order to protect public health in the country.
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the yacht operator, the first death was a Dutch citizen, who died on April 11. On April 24, the body of this person was taken to St Helena Island for repatriation, his wife accompanied him in the process. A few days later, the wife also became ill and died in South Africa while on her way back to the Netherlands.
On April 27, a British passenger on the MV Hondius became seriously ill and was evacuated to South Africa. This person is currently being actively treated in Johannesburg, in critical but stable condition. On May 2, a German passenger continued to die.
On May 4, representatives of Oceanwide Expeditions said that among the cases being monitored are 2 crew members of British and Dutch nationality. Both have acute respiratory symptoms and are expected to be evacuated from the ship for medical care.
On board, strict precautions are being applied, including quarantine, special hygiene regulations and medical surveillance. Oceanwide Expeditions is also looking for ways to bring the ship to the Canary Islands so that passengers can disembark and undergo medical screening.
Hantavirus is a group of viruses commonly associated with rodents, which can transmit to humans through the urine, feces or secretions of infected animals. Some cases can progress to severe respiratory diseases, even death.
According to the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment, the source of infection has not yet been identified. The agency believes the virus may have originated from rats on trains, or passengers who were infected at a stop in South America. WHO said the risk to the wider community remains low and travel restrictions are not yet needed.
