Three People WIth Suspected Hantavirus Evacuated From Cruise Ship In Deadly Outbreak
Three People WIth Suspected Hantavirus Evacuated From Cruise Ship In Deadly Outbreak
Ron Brackett and Ada Wood Wed, May 6, 2026 at 11:46 AM UTC
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Three people with suspected hantavirus were evacuated Wednesday from the cruise ship at the center of the deadly outbreak, says the World Health Organization. Those patients were on their way to the Netherlands.
Meanwhile more than 100 other passengers and crew are still on board the MV Hondius, which has been stuck off the coast of Cape Verde, waiting to learn what's next for them.
Three passengers have died in the outbreak of the rare virus that is usually spread by rodents.
However authorities have now confirmed that the strain of hantavirus in this outbreak is the one that can be transmitted person to person. South African medical teams identified the Andes strain in two passengers who were previously removed from the ship and flown to South Africa.
What's Next?
Now that the medical evacuation of the three ill passengers is complete, the ship is expected to sail to Spain's Canary Islands, according to cruise ship operator, Oceanwide Expeditions. The company said in a statement once the ship arrives there, quarantine and screening tests will occur, but the timeline for when passengers might be able to leave the ship and figure out how to get home is still unclear.
Early Wednesday Reuters reported that some government officials in the Canary Islands have objected to the ship docking there, which could further complicate things.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the U.N. health agency is working with the operators of the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew.
AP Photo/Arilson AlmeidaCase Confirmed In Switzerland
Authorities in Switzerland announced Wednesday that a man who returned from South America and traveled on the cruise ship has tested positive for the virus and is receiving treatment.
A statement from the Federal Office of Public Health said that the man “returned to Switzerland after traveling on the cruise ship on which there were a number of hantavirus cases.” It said his case also involved the Andes virus.
It said he had returned from a trip to South America with his wife at the end of April. After noticing symptoms, he went to the University Hospital Zurich after consulting with his doctor and was immediately placed in isolation.
The patient’s wife hasn’t shown any symptoms but is self-isolating as a precaution, the statement said.
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The public health office said “there is currently no risk to the Swiss public.”
The WHO said in a social media post that the man responded to “an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event” and went to the hospital.
The MV Hondius offers “expedition cruises” that involve trips to the Antarctic and several islands in the South Atlantic to see some of the remotest places on earth.
The cruises can last a month or more and cost between $6,000 and $25,000, depending on the cabin. The MV Hondius set off from southern Argentina on April 1.
What You
Don’t panic: Based on current research, the likelihood that this spreads significantly is still very low.
The Andes strain of hantavirus is primarily found in Chile and Argentina. The MV Hondius had departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, last month. However, the Ministry of Health for the Argentinian province where Ushuaia is located said there has never been a reported case of hantavirus in the province, according to CNN.
Hantavirus is usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or feces, which can lead to severe respiratory illness, kidney failure, hemorrhagic fever or death.
Early symptoms of the illness are similar to those of other viruses and can easily be confused with the flu.
Early Stage Symptoms:
Fatigue
Fever
Muscle aches
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Four to 10 days after early-stage symptoms, respiratory symptoms may develop, and 38% of people who develop these symptoms may die, according to the CDC.
Late Stage Symptoms:
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Tightness in the chest
The contributed to this report.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
