PRAIA, Cape Verde (AP) — Footage obtained by The Associated Press depicts the MV Hondius, a cruise ship currently anchored off the coast of West Africa, as it grapples with a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of three passengers and left at least four others seriously ill. The unsettling images show deserted decks, medical teams dressed in protective gear, and an eerie calm enveloping the ship, which is home to nearly 150 passengers and crew members awaiting a resolution to the crisis.
The hantavirus outbreak is primarily known to spread through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings. Health officials report that the World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring the situation, with passengers currently isolating in their cabins. Plans to medically evacuate three individuals, including one critically ill passenger, are underway, with arrangements for transport to the Netherlands once feasible.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch vessel that embarked on a polar cruise on April 1 from Argentina, had intended to visit Antarctica and several remote islands in the South Atlantic. However, the current health crisis has disrupted those plans. In the meantime, passengers are doing what they can to keep spirits high, as noted by Qasem Elhato, a 31-year-old passenger who shared video footage with the AP. “Our days have been close to normal, just waiting for authorities to find a solution,” he stated. He added that they have been engaging in activities such as reading, watching movies, and enjoying hot drinks.
Passenger Helene Goessaert shared her thoughts with Belgian broadcaster VRT, expressing that “everyone on board is in the same boat, literally.” She commented on the unpredictability of embarking on a journey with the understanding that not all would return. Goessaert noted that passengers receive regular updates, emphasizing the importance of consistent communication during this ordeal.
As part of the response to the outbreak, authorities in Cape Verde have dispatched medical teams, including doctors, nurses, and lab specialists, to the Hondius. These healthcare professionals were seen in Elhato’s footage as they boarded a smaller vessel to assist efforts on board. Cape Verdean officials announced that enhanced safety protocols, particularly around the port areas, are now in place as a precaution against the rodent-transmitted illness, which typically does not spread from person to person; however, health authorities have not completely ruled out that possibility.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the MV Hondius, reiterated its commitment to safety by implementing stringent hygiene protocols and medical monitoring. They also indicated that two specialized aircraft are en route to Cape Verde to facilitate the evacuation of two individuals requiring urgent medical attention, as well as one passenger connected to the deceased German woman. The timeline for this evacuation remains uncertain.
The ship is prepared to set sail to Spain’s Canary Islands, specifically Gran Canaria or Tenerife, once the medical evacuations are executed. The journey is projected to take around three days; however, details are still being negotiated with the appropriate health authorities.
As of the latest updates from the WHO, there are a total of seven reported cases related to this outbreak: three fatalities, one critically ill patient who has been evacuated, and three others on board with mild symptoms. Two of these cases, including one deceased and the evacuated individual, have tested positive for hantavirus.
The first recorded death related to this situation occurred on April 11, involving a Dutch man whose remains were taken off the ship on the British territory of St. Helena, located approximately 1,200 miles off the African coast. His wife traveled from St. Helena to South Africa, where she collapsed at an airport and subsequently died in a hospital on April 26. The ship continued its journey to Ascension Island, where a sick British man was evacuated to South Africa, where he remains in intensive care.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove from WHO stated that they are investigating possible human transmission on the vessel, believing the initial infection likely occurred before boarding. Despite being informed that there are no rats on board, concerns persist given the gravity of the outbreak.
Authorities in Argentina, where the hantavirus led to 28 recorded deaths last year, confirmed that none of the passengers had exhibited symptoms at the time of the Hondius's departure. It's noted that symptoms can manifest up to eight weeks post-exposure. Meanwhile, South African health officials have commenced contact tracing to manage potential fallout, although they assert the risk of a broader public health crisis remains low.
