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Global health authorities respond to hantavirus deaths on cruise ship
Three passengers have died after contracting hantavirus on a cruise ship that departed from Argentina a month ago, prompting an international effort to trace potentially exposed travelers.
Scope of the outbreak
Eight cases-three confirmed and five suspected-have been identified among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship, which visited remote wildlife areas, is now en route to Spain's Canary Islands after anchoring near Cape Verde for three days.
Health officials in multiple countries, including the UK, US, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, are tracking travelers who disembarked earlier. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed two British passengers who left the ship at St Helena are voluntarily self-isolating after returning home without symptoms.
Transmission and risks
The Andes strain of hantavirus, detected in two passengers, can spread between humans through prolonged close contact, such as sharing a cabin. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the global risk remains low, as the virus does not transmit easily like COVID-19 or influenza.
Hantavirus typically spreads via rodent excretions, but the source of this outbreak remains unclear. Experts suggest passengers may have been exposed during visits to wildlife areas or before boarding.
"The risk to the general public is really negligible," said Prof. Robin May, chief scientific officer at UKHSA.
UK Health Security Agency
Symptoms and precautions
Symptoms, which may appear 2-4 weeks after exposure, include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and respiratory distress. There is no specific treatment, but early medical care improves survival rates.
UKHSA advises British passengers returning from the cruise to self-isolate for 45 days. The ship has been deep-cleaned, and remaining passengers-none currently symptomatic-will fly home after reaching the Canary Islands.
Timeline of events
The MV Hondius docked at St Helena on 24 April, where 30 passengers, including seven Britons, disembarked. A Dutch woman who left the ship died after sharing a cabin with her husband, who died on board on 11 April. Oceanwide Expeditions stated it has contacted all disembarked passengers.
US health officials in Georgia and Arizona are monitoring three returning passengers, none of whom show symptoms. The ship, originally sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, altered its course following the outbreak.
Expert reassurance
Dr. Meera Chand of UKHSA stressed that casual contact, such as in public spaces, does not spread the virus. "We are contact tracing to limit any risk of onward transmission," she said.
The 19 British passengers and four crew members on board are being coordinated for their return to the UK, with authorities emphasizing the low public health risk.
