Three dead amid suspected cruise ship hantavirus as WHO probes possible person-to-person spread
A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has left three passengers dead and at least seven others ill, prompting global health officials to examine whether rare person-to-person transmission may be involved. The Dutch cruise ship, carrying roughly 150 passengers including four Australians, remained stranded off West Africa on Monday.
Experts say two explanations are most plausible. The more common route is exposure to the virus from infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva. But the World Health Organization said Tuesday that no rodents have been found on the vessel. The other possibility is the Andes strain of hantavirus, which has been documented to spread between people and carries a mortality rate of nearly 40 percent.
In a confined setting such as the 80-cabin, 353-foot ship, that prospect has heightened concern, said physician Zaid Fadul, a former Air Force flight surgeon. WHO officials said limited human-to-human transmission among close contacts may be occurring and that some people may have been infected before boarding.
“We do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that is happening among the really close contacts,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director. The Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20 for a weeks-long Atlantic Odyssey voyage before the suspected outbreak turned deadly.
Three passengers have since died — one confirmed from hantavirus — and another is in a life-threatening condition, according to the accounts cited. Authorities were working to evacuate two additional sick passengers as well. The West African island nation of Cape Verde refused permission for the ship to dock on Monday after it requested assistance following the latest death, calling the decision a precaution to protect public health.
According to the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, no one has been allowed to disembark except those needing urgent medical care. While the Andes strain cannot be ruled out, several experts stressed that a rodent-borne source remains the most likely explanation, typically contracted by inhaling particles from contaminated droppings.
Fadul noted that hantavirus can take weeks to cause symptoms and doubted the source originated on board. Giulia Gallo, a virus researcher at the Pirbright Institute, said the most plausible scenario is contact with infected rodents in South America, though it is unclear whether that happened during tourist activities or on the ship.
Doctors urged caution rather than panic, emphasizing basic measures: good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with others, and wearing a mask in shared spaces to reduce risk. For now, the vessel remains at sea as health authorities continue investigations and manage medical evacuations.