3 dead, others sickened by suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Ship had been travelling from Southern Argentina to Cape Verde, where it was reportedly docked on Sunday night

Published May 03, 2026  •  2 minute read

This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius, stationary off the port of Praia, Cape Verde, on Sunday, May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa's Health Ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said. Photo by AFP via Getty Images

At least three people are dead and three others were believed to be infected by a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that had been making its way across the South Atlantic Ocean to Cape Verde.

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Media reports said that a Dutch couple had died during a cruise on the m/v Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, and that another deceased person was still aboard the ship as it headed toward the chain of islands off the coast of Western Africa.

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The Associated Press, citing information from the MarineTraffic global shipping website, said the Dutch-flagged vessel had docked in Cape Verde’s capital of Praia on Sunday night.

Officials at the World Health Organization had confirmed at least one case of hantavirus, while five others were being investigated.

In this June 15, 2010, file photo, a rat wanders the subway tracks at Union Square in New York. Photo by Frank Franklin II /AP Photo

British national hospitalized in South Africa

One of those believed to be infected, a British national, was reportedly hospitalized in Johannesburg as well, the BBC said. They were in critical condition, according to The Associated Press, while plans had been underway to evacuate two other passengers exhibiting symptoms of the virus.

It was unclear if any Canadians were on board.

“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations,” the WHO said, via AP. “Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew. Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.”

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The BBC reported that the first deceased passenger, a 70-year-old male from Netherlands, died aboard the ship with his body being left in the British territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic about 1,500 km west of Angola.

His 69-year-old wife became ill on board as well, the BBC reported citing South African authorities, before being evacuated to a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she later died.

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Hantavirus is spread in part by urine and feces from infected rodents, Health Canada says, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and — in “severe” cases — difficulty breathing. There is no cure for the virus, but patients’ symptoms can improve with treatment.

“About 40% of those diagnosed with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome will not recover from their illness,” Health Canada’s website says. “Depending on the virus, about 1% to 12% of those diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome will not recover.”

The m/v Hondius had reportedly departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on the southern-most tip of South America, on March 20 and was expected to arrive in Cape Verde on Monday.

The 107.6-m Polar Class 6 ship can host 170 passengers in 80 cabins and it has room for 57 crew members, 13 guides and a doctor as well, according to Oceanwide Expedition’s website.

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