Passengers aboard the MV Hondius have begun following strict health and safety measures similar to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, as authorities investigate an outbreak of a rare hantavirus linked to multiple deaths.
According to reports from The New York Times, passengers are regularly sanitising their hands, maintaining distance from one another, and attending socially distanced meals while the ship remains under close health monitoring as it crosses the Atlantic.
The outbreak has triggered an international response.
Spain has confirmed that the vessel will be allowed to dock in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, despite concerns raised by local officials.
Spain’s Health Minister, Mónica García, said passengers who are medically fit would be permitted to travel home once the ship arrives.
However, the decision has faced criticism from Canary Islands regional president Fernando Clavijo, who questioned why the vessel needed to travel several more days to the islands without clear justification.
Concerns grew after three passengers died and several others became ill.
The World Health Organization confirmed that the cases are linked to hantavirus, a rare virus usually spread through contact with rodents.
Despite the deaths, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the overall public health risk remains low at this stage.
Medical evacuations have already taken place, with three passengers flown to the Netherlands for treatment, including two suffering severe symptoms.
Health officials say the outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant that can spread between humans through prolonged close contact.
Authorities in South Africa have begun tracing possible contacts. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said 62 people were identified for monitoring, while 42 had already been traced and placed under observation.
Passengers on board have also been instructed to wear masks, maintain physical distancing, and follow enhanced hygiene rules.
Dining arrangements have been adjusted to reduce close contact, with sanitiser stations placed throughout the ship.
One passenger described life on board as mostly calm despite the uncertainty, saying people were simply waiting for authorities to decide the next steps.
Investigators are also looking into where the virus may have originated, with Argentine authorities examining whether exposure occurred earlier during travel in South America.
Health experts say hantavirus infections are rare but can become serious, particularly when they affect the lungs, kidneys, or heart.
Early symptoms often include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, and stomach-related illness. In severe cases, patients may develop breathing difficulties as fluid builds up in the lungs.
