The recent outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has raised significant health concerns, as three individuals have reportedly died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed two cases of the deadly hantavirus, and five more are suspected among people who were on a luxury cruise ship now held in the Atlantic near Cape Verde. The three fatalities were a Dutch couple and ‌a German national, and a British national was evacuated from the ship from Ascension and is being treated in South Africa, officials have said.

Here’s what we know so far about the deadly outbreak in MV Hondius cruise ship.

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a viral infection primarily associated with rodent excreta, urine, and saliva, and it can lead to severe, potentially fatal illnesses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which can cause respiratory issues and other serious health complications. Hantaviruses are found globally, with occurrences in various regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

How did it spread in the Atlantic cruise ship?

First reported case

The MV Hondius departed from southern Argentina on April 1, 2026. On April 6, a 70-year-old Dutch man experienced symptoms including fever, headache, and mild diarrhoea, as reported by the WHO.

He passed away on April 11 after developing respiratory distress while the ship was situated between the British island territories of South Georgia and St. Helena in the South Atlantic, according to data from the ship tracking site MarineTraffic. Oceanwide Expeditions, the cruise company, stated that the cause of death could not be identified.

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Outbreak and subsequent deaths

The ship continued its journey for nearly two weeks, making a stop near Tristan da Cunha before arriving at St. Helena, where the Dutch man’s body was removed from the ship on April 24. His 69-year-old wife accompanied the body and flew to South Africa, but she began to exhibit symptoms as well and fell seriously ill during the flight on April 25, collapsing at an airport in South Africa. She died in a hospital on April 26, according to the WHO.

The third fatality, a German woman, died on the ship, again after it had set sail for a new destination — this time Cape Verde. She died four days after falling ill and also had signs of pneumonia, WHO said, which can be caused by hantavirus. Her body is still on the ship.

Another passenger, a British man, became sick on the ship after it left St. Helena and sailed to tiny Ascension Island. He had a high fever, shortness of breath and signs of pneumonia, according to WHO, and was evacuated from Ascension Island to South Africa on April 27. He is in an intensive care unit in a South African hospital.

WHO investigation

On Sunday (May 3), the WHO announced it was investigating the suspected hantavirus outbreak on the ship, which had by that time reached Cape Verde waters.

The British man's positive test prompted South African health authorities to also test the Dutch woman's body posthumously for hantavirus. That test came back positive on Monday.

WHO said the outbreak on the ship was being managed and the global risk was low as hantavirus is not easily spread between people, though it added it was tracing people who were on a passenger plane between St. Helena and Johannesburg, South Africa, with the Dutch woman.

Passengers and crew have been isolated in cabins with “maximal physical distancing,” WHO said, in a lockdown reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO says it is still investigating how a virus that is relatively rare in people got on board the ship. It said the Dutch man and his wife — whom it called cases one and two — had travelled in Argentina and elsewhere in South America before they boarded.

Hantavirus: signs and symtpoms

The infection leads to flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, appearing 1 to 8 weeks after exposure. This is followed by a severe respiratory phase marked by shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness, which can quickly progress to acute respiratory distress and potentially life-threatening situations if timely medical treatment is not received.

Treatments for Hantavirus

At present, there is no vaccine or targeted antiviral treatments available for hantavirus infections. Management involves supportive care tailored to the symptoms, which may include hospitalisation and respiratory assistance.

However, early detection and immediate medical attention are crucial for preventing severe respiratory distress. Preventive methods through rodent control and adherence to proper sanitation protocols is also crucial.

(With AP and Reuters inputs)