Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: Three Evacuated as Vessel Heads to Canary Islands
A confirmed hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has led to three evacuations and multiple deaths, with health authorities across several countries now on high alert.
Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Sparks International Health Emergency
A confirmed outbreak of the deadly hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has prompted the emergency evacuation of three passengers to the Netherlands, as the vessel now makes its way toward Spain's Canary Islands following a three-day anchor near Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa.
Three Passengers Evacuated to the Netherlands
Among those airlifted off the ship were a British national, a Dutch crew member, and a German passenger. Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that two of the evacuees arrived in the Netherlands in a serious condition, while a third — described as stable — was aboard a separate evacuation flight that experienced delays.
The British evacuee has been widely identified by media outlets as 56-year-old former police officer Martin Anstee, reported to be in stable condition following his arrival in the Netherlands. The 65-year-old German passenger evacuated from the ship is said to have had close contact with a German woman who died on board on 2 May. A 41-year-old Dutch crew member was also among those removed from the vessel.
Importantly, none of the three evacuees have so far tested positive for hantavirus, though two continue to display symptoms consistent with the illness.
Death Toll Rises to Three
Three people have died since the MV Hondius departed Argentina approximately one month ago.
One of the victims was a 69-year-old Dutch woman who disembarked at the island of St Helena on 24 April. She subsequently traveled to South Africa, where she passed away on 26 April. Her husband had died aboard the ship on 11 April, though his case has not been confirmed as hantavirus. A German woman also died on board on 2 May, and her body remains on the ship. Her case has not been confirmed either.
Health officials have confirmed that at least one of the deceased tested positive for the virus, while investigations into the remaining two deaths are still ongoing.
KLM Flight Attendant Hospitalized in Amsterdam
In a related development, Dutch media reported that a KLM flight attendant was admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam after displaying hantavirus symptoms. The crew member reportedly came into contact with the 69-year-old Dutch woman, who had briefly boarded a KLM flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam on 25 April before being deemed too ill to travel. KLM issued a formal advisory on Wednesday confirming the incident and noting that the woman was removed from the flight due to her medical condition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that contact tracing is actively underway for all flights the deceased woman took.
WHO and Global Health Authorities Respond
The WHO has confirmed a total of eight hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius — three confirmed and five suspected. A Swiss man who disembarked from the ship and returned home later tested positive for the virus and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Zurich. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the patient had responded to an email from the ship's operator alerting passengers to the health situation on board.
South African health authorities have identified the Andes strain of hantavirus — a variant predominantly associated with Latin America, where the cruise originated — in two of the confirmed patients. The Andes strain is notable among hantavirus variants for its observed capacity to spread between humans through close contact, a factor that has raised concern among international health experts.
Passengers Monitored in the US and UK
Health authorities in two US states confirmed to the BBC that they are actively monitoring three former passengers who disembarked earlier in the voyage and have since returned to the United States. None are currently showing symptoms.
- Georgia: Two residents under monitoring, both reportedly in good health with no signs of infection.
- Arizona: One resident being monitored, currently asymptomatic.
In the United Kingdom, the Health Security Agency confirmed that two British nationals are self-isolating at home following potential exposure to the virus aboard the ship. Both individuals left the vessel earlier in the journey and are not displaying symptoms. According to figures released by Oceanwide Expeditions, 19 passengers and four crew members on board hold British nationality.
146 Passengers Remain on Board Under Strict Protocols
As of the latest update, 146 passengers and crew representing 23 different nations remain on the MV Hondius. The operator confirmed that strict precautionary health measures are in place as the ship continues its journey toward the Canary Islands.
Testing to determine whether additional individuals aboard have contracted the virus is ongoing. Health officials have emphasized that the risk of wider community transmission remains low, though international surveillance efforts continue across multiple countries.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. However, health experts investigating this outbreak believe the Andes strain may have spread through close human-to-human contact — a rare but documented mode of transmission that sets this particular strain apart from others in the hantavirus family.
