The family of an elderly Dutch couple who passed away after becoming ill on the 'hantavirus' cruise ship has expressed their grief, stating that their 'beautiful journey together has been cut short.' The couple, both aged 69 and from Haulerwijk, Netherlands, died after falling ill aboard the MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
Family Requests Privacy
A family member, speaking through the Dutch newspaper Namens de Familie, asked for privacy. In a statement, they said: 'The beautiful journey they experienced together has been abruptly cut short. We cannot yet comprehend that we have to miss them. We want to bring them home in peace and remember them. We request that the media not share any names, images, or personal details of them or our family.'
Details of the Deaths
Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that the man died on April 11, with the cause of death undetermined on board. His body was kept on the ship until his wife disembarked on the remote volcanic island of St Helena, about 1,200 miles west of Africa. Three days later, the company was informed that the wife had become unwell during the return journey and later died. A spokesman said: 'Both passengers were Dutch nationals. At this time, it has not been confirmed that these two deaths are connected to the current medical situation on board.'
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a family of rodent-borne viruses, each strain tied to a specific host species. The virus spreads when people come into contact with infected droppings, saliva, urine, or nesting materials. It is extremely rare and rarely transmitted from person to person. Hantavirus can cause two main illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), affecting the lungs, and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), affecting the kidneys. The incubation period is generally two to four weeks but can range from two days to eight weeks.
Symptoms of Hantavirus
Early symptoms are flu-like, including headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea. In HPS, patients may experience headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems. In HFRS, initial symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, and blurred vision. Later symptoms can include low blood pressure, acute shock, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure. Hantavirus can be fatal, and there is no cure.
Woman Dies in Johannesburg
The woman died in a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, during her return journey to the Netherlands. Her body remains in Johannesburg. Oceanwide Expeditions reported that around 150 crew and passengers are stuck on board the MV Hondius, currently off the coast of Cape Verde.
WHO Involvement
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that medical personnel boarded the MV Hondius to evacuate two people. The WHO believes there may be some human-to-human transmission among close contacts on the vessel and assumes that people were infected off the boat before joining the cruise.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow.
