Hantavirus Outbreak: Cruise Ship With 149 on Board Denied Docking at Cape Verde Port As Cases and Deaths Reported
A cruise ship linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak has been denied permission to dock in Cape Verde, with 149 people still on board. Three deaths and several suspected cases have been reported. The WHO says the risk to the public remains low, while passengers are under isolation and medical monitoring.
A cruise ship at the centre of a suspected hantavirus outbreak has been denied permission to dock in Cape Verde, leaving 149 passengers and crew onboard under strict health protocols. The vessel, MV Hondius, has been linked to three deaths and multiple suspected infections.
Health authorities say the risk to the wider public remains low, but precautionary measures have been intensified as officials monitor the situation and assess medical needs on board. Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: How Could the Transmission Event Have Happened?
Hantavirus Scare: Ship With 149 On Board Barred From Docking
Authorities in Cape Verde refused docking access at the port of Praia as a preventive step, NBC News reported. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, may now sail toward the Canary Islands, including Las Palmas or Tenerife, for possible docking.
Passengers from 23 countries, including the United States, are currently being kept under isolation and medical observation. The cruise operator said precautionary protocols are being strictly followed. Hantavirus Outbreak: Deadly Infection on Atlantic Cruise Ship Leaves 3 Dead and Several Sickened as WHO Confirms Case, Evacuations Underway.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one case of hantavirus has been confirmed so far, while several others remain suspected. One patient is in critical condition in a hospital in Johannesburg.
Two crew members also required urgent medical attention onboard, and arrangements for evacuation are being considered. Authorities are coordinating efforts across countries to manage the situation.
WHO officials have emphasised that hantavirus does not spread easily between humans and that the overall risk to the public is low. “There is no need for panic or travel restrictions,” said WHO Regional Director Hans Henri P. Kluge, noting that responses are being guided by scientific assessment.
The exact source of the infections remains unclear. Experts note that hantavirus is typically linked to exposure to infected rodents, rather than human-to-human transmission. The ship had departed from Argentina about three weeks ago and was en route to the Canary Islands when the cases emerged.
Among the deceased are a Dutch couple and a German national. One of the victims died onboard, while another collapsed during transit at an international airport.
Health agencies, including those in Europe and South Africa, are coordinating with the WHO to manage the situation and ensure appropriate medical response.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2026 07:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
