Hantavirus Outbreak on MV Hondius: Final Passengers Disembark Amid Tragedy
Final Passengers Depart from MV Hondius
The MV Hondius has seen its last passengers leave following a hantavirus outbreak that resulted in three fatalities and affected individuals from various nations. The ship, which set sail from Tenerife, has now returned to the Netherlands after the remaining six passengers—comprising four Australians, one Brit, and one New Zealander—disembarked along with some crew members. The World Health Organization has reported eight confirmed cases and two probable cases associated with this outbreak across six different countries. Among the deceased, two had confirmed hantavirus infections, while one was classified as a probable case.
Here’s a summary of the affected countries:
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there have been two fatalities and one confirmed case linked to the outbreak. A Dutch couple who traveled through Argentina before boarding the ship in Ushuaia on April 1 were the first victims. The 70-year-old husband showed symptoms on April 6 and passed away on April 11. His body was removed from the ship during a stop at Saint Helena between April 22 and 24. No hantavirus test was conducted prior to his death, leading the WHO to classify him as a 'probable case.' His 69-year-old wife, who also fell ill after disembarking at Saint Helena, deteriorated during a flight to Johannesburg and died in the hospital on April 26, with hantavirus confirmed on May 4. Additionally, the ship's doctor, a Dutch national, developed symptoms on April 30 and tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus on May 6. He was evacuated to the Netherlands from Cape Verde and is currently in stable condition while receiving treatment in isolation.
Britain
Two British nationals have been confirmed as infected, with another classified as a probable case. One British man fell ill on April 24 with symptoms of fever and pneumonia and was evacuated three days later from Ascension Island to South Africa, where he was admitted to intensive care. His hantavirus infection was confirmed on May 2, with subsequent sequencing identifying the Andes strain. Another British man, who served as a guide on the ship, showed symptoms on April 27 and tested positive on May 6. He was evacuated from Cape Verde to the Netherlands on May 7 and is stable in isolation. A third British passenger disembarked on Tristan da Cunha on April 14 and reported symptoms on April 28; the WHO has classified him as a probable case pending lab results. British officials dispatched military paratroopers and medics to the remote island to deliver essential medical supplies.
Germany
A German woman who developed fever on April 28 and later pneumonia died aboard the ship on May 2. Testing in the Netherlands confirmed she was infected with the Andes strain of hantavirus. Her body remained on the ship as it prepared to depart Tenerife for the Netherlands.
Switzerland
A Swiss man who left the Hondius in Saint Helena on April 22 traveled to Switzerland via South Africa and Qatar. He developed symptoms on May 1 after arriving in Switzerland and tested positive for the Andes strain on May 5 while being treated in isolation.
France
A French woman who was evacuated from the ship fell ill late on May 10 and later tested positive for hantavirus, as reported by French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist.
United States
U.S. authorities indicated that one of the 17 American citizens repatriated from the ship tested 'mildly PCR positive' for the virus, while another exhibited mild symptoms. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced these cases on May 10. Health officials are continuing to investigate other suspected infections and potential close contacts related to the outbreak.