A luxury expedition cruise ship battling a rare hantavirus outbreak is sailing toward Spain’s Canary Islands after three passengers and crew members were evacuated for urgent medical treatment, according to international health officials and media reports. The vessel, the MV Hondius, had been stranded off the coast of Cape Verde amid growing concerns over the spread of the virus.
The outbreak has already claimed three lives and sparked a multinational public health response involving Spain, the Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, Argentina, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Authorities say the ship is expected to dock in Tenerife within days, where passengers will either be repatriated or quarantined depending on their exposure risk.
Three Evacuated as Conditions Worsened
Three individuals were airlifted from the ship after developing symptoms linked to hantavirus infection. Two were reported to be in serious condition, while a third was evacuated because of close contact with one of the deceased passengers. The evacuated individuals include a Dutch national, a British crew member, and a German passenger.
The evacuations involved complex international coordination. One medical aircraft reportedly had to divert after Morocco denied refueling access, forcing emergency logistical adjustments before patients could continue on to hospitals in Europe.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease usually spread through exposure to infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Most forms of the virus do not spread between humans. However, officials confirmed that the strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak is the Andes variant — the only known hantavirus strain capable of limited person-to-person transmission.
Health experts stress that such transmission is extremely uncommon and generally requires very close contact. Symptoms can begin with fever, muscle pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal illness before progressing to severe respiratory complications known as hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.
Outbreak Likely Traced to South America
Investigators believe the outbreak may have originated before the ship departed from Ushuaia on April 1. Authorities suspect a Dutch couple who later died may have contracted the virus during birdwatching activities near a landfill area in Argentina.
The ship had traveled through remote South Atlantic destinations, including Saint Helena, before cases began emerging onboard. Several passengers had already disembarked during earlier stops, prompting health agencies in multiple countries to begin contact tracing operations.
Spain Approves Docking Despite Concerns
Spanish authorities have approved the ship’s arrival in the Canary Islands despite objections from some local officials and residents worried about the risk of infection. Spain’s health ministry has emphasized that passengers still onboard are currently asymptomatic and that the public health threat remains low.
The WHO has also stated that the situation is being carefully monitored and is not comparable to large-scale outbreaks such as COVID-19. Additional medical teams and epidemiologists reportedly boarded the vessel before it departed Cape Verde to continue monitoring passengers and crew during the journey to Spain.
International Monitoring Continues
Cases connected to the outbreak have now been identified or investigated in several countries, including South Africa and Switzerland. Swiss officials confirmed that a former passenger who returned home tested positive and is receiving treatment in Zurich.
As the MV Hondius continues its voyage toward Tenerife, health authorities are racing to trace contacts, monitor exposed travelers, and prevent any further spread of the rare virus.
