3 patients are being evacuated to Europe from cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Praia, Cape Verde — Authorities evacuated three patients from a Dutch expedition cruise ship stricken by a hantavirus outbreak, as the vessel remained anchored in the Atlantic with nearly 150 people aboard. The World Health Organization confirmed the transfers to Europe on Wednesday, highlighting the challenges of managing a rare infectious disease at sea. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of remote travel itineraries, even as officials emphasized the low overall risk to the public.
Evacuations Mark Critical Step in Crisis Response
Health workers in protective gear boarded the MV Hondius on Tuesday to prepare for the airlift, which included the ship’s British doctor previously described as in serious condition by Spain’s health ministry. An air ambulance later carried away the three patients: a 41-year-old Dutch national, a 56-year-old British national, and a 65-year-old German national. Dutch ship operator Oceanwide Expeditions reported that two remained in serious condition, while the third showed no symptoms but had close ties to a deceased passenger.
The Dutch foreign ministry coordinated the transfers to specialized hospitals in Europe. Associated Press footage captured the operation amid the ship’s isolation off Cape Verde. This move came after three fatalities linked to the outbreak, with one body still onboard.
Suspected Origins Trace Back to South America
Argentine officials investigating the outbreak pointed to a Dutch couple as likely index cases. They contracted the virus during a bird-watching tour in Ushuaia before boarding the ship on April 1. The couple visited a local landfill, where exposure to rodents appeared probable, according to the officials who spoke anonymously amid an ongoing probe.
Authorities noted that Ushuaia and the surrounding Tierra del Fuego province had no prior hantavirus records. The ship then embarked on a route through Antarctica and remote Atlantic islands, including South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, Ascension, and others. Laboratory tests confirmed five of eight reported cases as the Andes virus variant, prevalent in Argentina and Chile.
Passengers Onboard Face Uncertain Journey Ahead
Those remaining on the MV Hondius reported no symptoms and continued isolating in cabins, health officials stated. The vessel planned a three- or four-day voyage to Spain’s Canary Islands, where arrival posed no public risk, according to Spain’s health ministry. Regional president Fernando Clavijo expressed concerns over potential population exposure and requested a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Two Dutch infectious disease experts were en route to the ship to bolster medical support. The World Health Organization stressed access to clinical care, as severe cases could demand oxygen or ventilation for acute respiratory distress.
What Matters Now: With the incubation period spanning one to six weeks or longer, monitoring remains essential for passengers, crew, and contacts worldwide.
Contact Tracing Spans Continents
Efforts to track exposed individuals extended across multiple countries. In Switzerland, a former passenger received treatment at a Zurich hospital after testing positive; his wife self-isolated without symptoms. South African authorities traced 42 of 62 potential contacts from two passengers transferred there—one British man in intensive care and the other who died—all testing negative so far.
Twenty contacts remained unlocated, including flight passengers and crew possibly headed overseas. At St. Helena, a Dutch man’s body was removed; his wife later collapsed and died in Johannesburg. A British man had been evacuated earlier at Ascension Island to South Africa. European and African health officials worked to identify others who disembarked earlier.
Experts Downplay Broader Pandemic Threat
Hantavirus typically spreads via inhaling contaminated rodent droppings, with rare person-to-person transmission requiring close contact, the WHO explained. Its top epidemic expert, Maria Van Kerkhove, described the situation clearly: “This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease.” She added, “Most people will never be exposed to this.”
The agency noted no prior hantavirus outbreaks on ships. Public risk stayed low, though vigilance persisted given the virus’s potential severity. As the MV Hondius approached the Canary Islands, global health networks demonstrated coordinated readiness against an uncommon maritime health emergency.
