Hantavirus Outbreak on Atlantic Cruise Ship Results in Three Deaths
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three individuals have died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship navigating the Atlantic Ocean.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the MV Hondius, reported that a Dutch couple and a German passenger onboard the vessel have died. Two hantavirus cases have been confirmed, including the Dutch woman who passed away. The causes of death for the other two passengers remain under investigation.
Additionally, Oceanwide Expeditions stated that two crew members are exhibiting respiratory symptoms.
The outbreak was identified on the cruise ship during its journey from Argentina to Cape Verde.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried primarily by rodents and transmitted to humans mainly through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that infections generally occur when virus particles become airborne from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Though rare, transmission can also happen via rodent bites or scratches.
The virus can cause two serious illnesses. The first, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), typically begins with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, progressing to headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal symptoms. If respiratory symptoms develop, the mortality rate is approximately 38%, according to the CDC.
The second illness, Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), is more severe and primarily affects the kidneys. Later symptoms may include low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure.
Confirmed and Suspected Hantavirus Cases
A 69-year-old British national is currently in intensive care in a South African hospital with confirmed hantavirus infection.
The virus was also detected in the Dutch woman who died after disembarking in Saint Helena.
Oceanwide Expeditions reported that two crew members—one British and one Dutch—are showing acute respiratory symptoms, although hantavirus has not been confirmed in these cases.
"One had mild and one had severe symptoms, but both required 'urgent medical care'."
The cruise ship remains anchored off the coast of Cape Verde, carrying 149 people from 23 countries.
Timeline of the Hantavirus Outbreak
Information from the WHO and Oceanwide Expeditions outlines the progression of the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.
Global Hantavirus Cases
Annually, an estimated 150,000 cases of HFRS occur worldwide, predominantly in Europe and Asia, according to the National Institutes of Health. China accounts for more than half of these cases.
In the United States, surveillance data from 1993 to 2023 recorded 890 hantavirus cases.
The Seoul virus, a major hantavirus strain carried by Norway rats (brown rats), is present globally, including in the US.
Treatment of Hantavirus
No specific treatment exists for hantavirus infections.
The CDC recommends supportive care to manage symptoms, which may include oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, antiviral medications, and dialysis.
Patients with severe symptoms often require hospitalization in intensive care units, and some may need intubation.
To reduce exposure, the CDC advises eliminating contact with rodents in homes and workplaces, sealing entry points in basements or attics, and wearing protective gear when cleaning rodent droppings to avoid inhaling contaminated air.
Recent Hantavirus Cases
In February 2025, Betsy Arakawa, wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, died from a respiratory illness linked to hantavirus.
Medical investigators believe she contracted HPS, the most common hantavirus strain in the US, which led to her death.
Nests and deceased rodents were discovered in outbuildings near her residence.
Police records indicate Arakawa searched online for information about flu and Covid symptoms in the days preceding her death.
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