Three Suspected Hantavirus Patients Evacuated From Cruise Ship Off Cape Verde – WHO

Three passengers suspected of hantavirus infection have been evacuated from a cruise ship anchored near Cape Verde and flown to the Netherlands for treatment, the World Health Organization has confirmed.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that although the situation is being closely monitored, the overall risk to public health remains low.

“Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands,” he said via X.

The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, has been under international scrutiny since Saturday after reports that three passengers died, with hantavirus suspected as the cause of death.

The vessel departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 and has been anchored off Cape Verde since Sunday. Onboard are 88 passengers and 59 crew members from 23 countries.

Health authorities have confirmed three cases of hantavirus, including one death, while five other suspected cases are still being investigated.

The evacuation on Wednesday involved two crew members and one additional passenger and was coordinated between the WHO, ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions, and authorities in Cape Verde, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Tedros said: “WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew.”

He added that monitoring systems have been activated for both those still onboard and passengers who have already disembarked.

“At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low,” he reiterated.

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