Cruise ship outbreak leaves 3 dead as officials delay medical evacuations and probe hantavirus threat
A suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship m/v Hondius has resulted in three deaths and several illnesses, with one patient in intensive care in South Africa. The World Health Organization is coordinating with authorities to arrange medical evacuations and assess the public health risk. Investigations, including virus sequencing and epidemiological studies, are ongoing.
- ▪The m/v Hondius is a Dutch-flagged cruise ship operated by Oceanwide Expeditions.
- ▪One case of hantavirus has been laboratory confirmed, with five additional suspected cases under investigation.
- ▪Three people have died, one is in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two crew members require urgent medical care.
- ▪The ship is currently stationary off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde, in the Atlantic Ocean.
- ▪The WHO is coordinating with governments and the ship’s operator to manage the outbreak and medical evacuations.
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World Health Organization Cruise ship outbreak leaves 3 dead as officials delay medical evacuations and probe hantavirus threat The m/v Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, is sailing off West Africa with two crew members needing urgent care By Greg Wehner Fox News Published May 3, 2026 8:12pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Passenger details nightmare on cruise ship: 'We felt trapped' Kathleen Meenan, a passenger on Carnival Sunshine, shares how the ship was battered by 80 mph winds and rough waters on 'America Reports.' NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has left three people dead and several others ill, the World Health Organization…
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