Atlantic – A suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard a polar expedition vessel in the Atlantic Ocean has resulted in three fatalities and left several other passengers ill. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Sunday, May 3, that at least one case has been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus, a rare illness typically transmitted to humans from rodents through contact with urine or droppings. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, which was travelling from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa.

Among the deceased is a Dutch couple; a 70-year-old man who died on board and his 69-year-old wife who later died at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. A third victim remained on the ship while it was docked in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Health officials report that a 69-year-old British national is currently receiving treatment in intensive care in South Africa, while five other individuals are considered suspected cases.

The WHO is facilitating a coordinated international response, working with national authorities and the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, to manage the crisis. While human-to-human transmission of hantaviruses is considered rare, the WHO noted that it can lead to severe acute respiratory illness and requires careful monitoring. The vessel, which carries approximately 170 passengers and 70 crew members, is expected to continue its journey toward Spain’s Canary Islands once the immediate health assessment is complete.