Date: May 4, 2026 l By Reporter: Ebere Njoku
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reassured the public that the risk of wider transmission remains low following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde, despite multiple deaths and ongoing medical evacuations.
The outbreak occurred on the Dutch-flagged expedition vessel MV Hondius, where around 150 passengers and crew remain on board after authorities denied the ship permission to dock due to health concerns. At least three people have died, while several others have fallen ill, including one confirmed case of hantavirus currently receiving treatment in South Africa.
Medical teams are working to evacuate symptomatic individuals as part of an international response involving WHO and multiple national health authorities. The situation has left passengers stranded at sea amid uncertainty, with efforts ongoing to repatriate both the ill and the deceased.
Despite the seriousness of the onboard situation, WHO emphasized that hantavirus does not spread easily between humans and is typically transmitted through exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. As a result, the agency said the likelihood of a broader public health threat remains minimal.
The ship had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, in March on a high-end Antarctic expedition, making several stops before the outbreak was detected. Investigations are now underway to determine the source of the infection, with experts considering possible exposure either onboard the vessel or during earlier supplies in South America.
Hantavirus infections are considered rare but can be severe, sometimes leading to life-threatening respiratory complications. However, health authorities stress that such cases are typically linked to environmental exposure rather than sustained human-to-human transmission, further supporting WHO’s assessment that the risk to the general public remains low.
As containment and evacuation efforts continue, the incident highlights the challenges of managing infectious disease outbreaks in isolated maritime settings. For now, global health officials maintain that while the situation onboard the vessel is serious, it does not pose a significant threat beyond those directly affected.