14 articles · Updated · Scientific American · May 4
Three people have died and at least three others are ill aboard MV Hondius off West Africa; one confirmed case is in intensive care in South Africa.
About 150 passengers remain onboard, and local health authorities have not approved disembarkation or the medical evacuation of two sick crew members, the company said.
Hantavirus is usually linked to rodent exposure, though person-to-person spread is rare; the disease can be hard to diagnose early and has no known cure.
Trapped at sea with a deadly virus, where can the 150 passengers of the MV Hondius find refuge?
Is the deadly hantavirus on the Hondius the rare strain that can spread between people?
After three hantavirus deaths at sea, does your travel insurance cover a real cruise ship nightmare?
MV Hondius Cruise Ship Faces Severe Hantavirus Crisis with Multiple Deaths and Evacuation Challenges
Overview
In April 2026, the MV Hondius cruise ship, after visiting Ushuaia, Argentina, experienced a hantavirus outbreak linked to the Andes virus, likely contracted through rodent exposure. This outbreak caused multiple severe illnesses and three deaths, including a Dutch couple and a German passenger. Due to the outbreak, Cape Verde denied the ship permission to dock, leaving 149 people stranded and isolated in the Atlantic Ocean. Oceanwide Expeditions has enforced strict health measures and is seeking to disembark passengers in the Canary Islands. Meanwhile, South Africa has accepted critically ill evacuees, and the WHO is coordinating the international response to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.