The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging calm after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship left three people dead, stressing that the risk to the wider public remains low.
Hans Kluge, the agency’s Europe director, said there is “no need for panic or travel restrictions,” noting that infections linked to Hantavirus are rare and typically occur through contact with infected rodents.
It could be recalled that DDM reported that the incident happened aboard the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Ushuaia to Cape Verde. The ship is now anchored off the capital, Praia, as authorities work to manage the situation.
Operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed that two passengers died on board, while a third died after leaving the vessel.
One patient is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two others still on the ship require urgent medical attention.
Plans are underway to evacuate the remaining sick passengers. Dutch authorities are coordinating efforts to bring them back to the Netherlands, although any transfer depends on approval from local officials in Cape Verde.
Medical teams have already boarded the vessel to assess the situation, but passengers have not yet been allowed to disembark.
Officials say any evacuation or broader screening must be carefully coordinated with local health authorities.
The WHO says it is working with all affected countries to support treatment, evacuation, and a full risk assessment. While one case of hantavirus has been confirmed in the patient being treated in Johannesburg it is still unclear whether the virus caused the three deaths. Investigations are ongoing.
For now, health authorities are focused on containing the situation and understanding how the infections occurred, while emphasizing that the likelihood of wider spread remains low.
