Countries are working to trace approximately 40 passengers who left the cruise ship MV Hondius at the island of St. Helena before a hantavirus outbreak was identified. The Dutch foreign ministry said on Thursday that the group includes the wife of a Dutch man who died from the virus, as well as a 69-year-old woman who later died in South Africa.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch-operated vessel, had been on a voyage when cases of hantavirus, a rare viral infection, were reported. On Wednesday, three patients were evacuated from the ship, and two of them were confirmed to have the disease, according to a news report. The ship subsequently departed Praia, Cape Verde, on Wednesday with nearly 150 passengers and crew members on board, continuing its journey toward Spain’s Canary Islands. Before that, the ship had been off the coast of Cabo Verde.
Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and person-to-person transmission is considered uncommon. However, some passengers aboard the ship have suggested that such transmission may have occurred. A passenger told El País, "It’s being said here that it may have been the Dutch couple," referring to the couple that included the man who died. The chronology of infections and travelers’ accounts have reinforced the theory of person-to-person transmission on board, the report noted.
The first death was announced to passengers in a shipboard message. A recording captured the announcement: "This is my sad duty to inform you that one of our passengers suddenly passed away last night." The Dutch man’s wife was among those who left the ship at St. Helena before the outbreak was recognized.
Authorities are now attempting to locate the passengers who disembarked at the British territory. Nearly 40 people are believed to have dispersed across multiple countries, and officials are seeking to contact them to prevent further spread of the virus. Two British nationals who left the ship before the outbreak was detected are already self-isolating at home, and passengers in the United Kingdom have been asked to self-isolate for 45 days after possible exposure, according to reports. The tracing effort involves multiple nations, as the individuals may have traveled onward to various destinations. Health authorities are working to identify and contact these people to provide guidance and monitor for symptoms.
The ship’s operator has stated that the vessel is safe, and it is continuing its planned itinerary. Health authorities in the involved countries are coordinating efforts to reach those who may have been exposed. The situation remains under investigation as more information becomes available.
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