A British crew member who fell ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean is to be medically evacuated, officials have confirmed. The crew member is being prepared for evacuation from the MV Hondius alongside a Dutch colleague, with Dutch authorities overseeing the operation. The two crew members required urgent medical care after experiencing respiratory symptoms, according to tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organization stated that the highest priority is to medically evacuate these two individuals to ensure they receive the necessary care. A British passenger with symptoms of hantavirus, a disease primarily found in rodents, is reportedly improving. That passenger was medically evacuated on April 27 to Johannesburg and remains in intensive care.
UK Prime Minister Responds
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government is putting plans in place for the onward travel of Britons stuck on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship. In a post on X, Starmer expressed his thoughts for those affected and confirmed collaboration with international partners to support British nationals onboard.
Details of the Outbreak
A total of seven suspected cases have been identified, including three fatalities. Two cases have been confirmed as hantavirus. Dr. Van Kerkhove reported that seven of the 147 passengers and crew have fallen ill. One patient is in intensive care in South Africa and improving, while two patients remain onboard awaiting medical evacuation to the Netherlands for treatment. Another suspected case has been reported, but the individual is asymptomatic and doing well.
At this stage, no additional symptomatic people are onboard. Passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins while disinfection and other public health measures are carried out. The ship was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde and currently has 19 British passengers and four British crew members.
Government and WHO Actions
A UK government spokesperson confirmed working with the Dutch government on medical evacuation planning for sick passengers of various nationalities, including one British national. Medical teams from Cape Verde are providing support, and the ship will move to the Canary Islands for investigations and full disinfection. The WHO assesses the risk to the global population as low.
A Dutch passenger died onboard on April 11, and his wife died on April 27, later testing positive for a hantavirus variant. On May 2, a German passenger died, though the cause is unconfirmed. Oceanwide Expeditions stated the atmosphere remains calm, with passengers composed, and the company is working to expedite disembarkation and medical screening.
Hantavirus infections, usually spread by infected rodents' urine or faeces, can cause severe respiratory illness and be fatal. While rare, person-to-person transmission can occur. There is no specific treatment, but early medical attention improves survival chances.
