Three people with suspected hantavirus, including a British doctor, have been medically evacuated from a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde. The British crew member, along with a Dutch colleague and another passenger, were taken from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius for onward travel to the Netherlands, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed.
Spanish health officials reported that the British medic, who had previously been in a critical condition, is now in a more stable state. The evacuation has allowed the ship, carrying nearly 150 people, to continue its three-day journey to the Canary Islands after Spanish authorities granted permission for the vessel to dock. However, a dispute has emerged, with the president of the Canary Islands expressing concern over the ship docking in Tenerife.
The ship had been anchored off Cape Verde while arrangements were made to evacuate the affected crew members. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the WHO, announced on X: “Three suspected hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands in coordination with WHO, the ship’s operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.”
He added: “WHO continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed. Monitoring and follow-up for passengers onboard and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated in collaboration with the ship’s operators and national health authorities. At this stage, the overall public health risk remains low.”
Previously, a Dutch couple and a German national who had been on the ship died, and a British national remains in intensive care in South Africa. The UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated that the UK has been working with other countries to facilitate evacuations, and Foreign Office staff are in direct contact with British nationals onboard. “The Foreign Office is working urgently to support the UKHSA’s [UK Health Security Agency’s] work overseas and to make sure British nationals on the MV Hondius can all get safely home with proper protection for public health,” she said.
Since the outbreak began, the WHO has emphasized that the risk to the public is low. Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva, and human-to-human transmission is rare. However, limited spread among close contacts has been observed in previous outbreaks of the Andes strain, which has circulated in South America, including Argentina, where the cruise originated in March.
South Africa’s health ministry reported that contact tracing is underway, with 62 contacts identified, including flight crew and healthcare workers. These individuals will be monitored until the incubation period passes. None have been diagnosed with hantavirus so far. Cape Verde, the ship’s intended final destination, has not allowed the vessel to put passengers ashore due to the outbreak.
Late Tuesday, the Spanish health ministry confirmed it had been asked by the WHO and the EU to accept the MV Hondius and agreed “in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.” However, the Canary Islands’ leader, Fernando Clavijo, expressed opposition to the docking and requested an urgent meeting with Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. The final decision rests with the central government.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the tour operator, stated: “At this stage, the planned destination for m/v Hondius following the successful medical transfer is the Canary Islands. Oceanwide Expeditions remains in close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and a precise timeline. We are unable to confirm the details of onward travel for guests at this stage. This is dependent on medical advice and the outcome of stringent screening procedures.”
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it has been in touch directly with all British passengers onboard the ship.
