Cape Verde delays medical disembarkation from cruise ship after suspected hantavirus outbreak
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 4
Cape Verde delays medical disembarkation from cruise ship after suspected hantavirus outbreak
7 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 4
WHO said six people were affected on the Dutch-flagged m/v Hondius off Praia, with three deaths, one laboratory-confirmed case and one patient in intensive care in Johannesburg.
Operator Oceanwide Expeditions said two crew members also need urgent care, but local officials had not approved transfers ashore despite boarding the vessel to assess the situation.
WHO is coordinating with governments and the operator, while Dutch authorities seek repatriation approval; investigations, virus sequencing and public health risk assessments are continuing.
Why are dying cruise passengers being held offshore and denied urgent medical aid?
Did a deadly, person-to-person hantavirus strain emerge on an Antarctic cruise?
Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius Cruise Ship Causes 3 Deaths and Sparks International Health Crisis
Overview
In May 2026, the MV Hondius cruise ship docked in Praia, Cape Verde, amid a serious hantavirus outbreak that began during its voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina. The outbreak caused three passenger deaths and left several others critically ill, including a British national in intensive care in Johannesburg. Cape Verde refused to allow symptomatic passengers to disembark, complicating medical care and evacuation efforts. The World Health Organization is coordinating the response, including investigations, medical support, and virus sequencing, while the cruise operator suspended operations. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of cruise ships to zoonotic diseases, exposing gaps in international protocols and prompting calls for improved health measures and emergency preparedness in the industry.