The MV Hondius is en route to Europe after being stranded for several days off the Cape Verde coast, located west of Senegal.
A serious hantavirus outbreak has resulted in three fatalities, with a fourth individual in critical condition and multiple others requiring immediate medical attention.
According to South Africa’s health ministry, contact tracing is currently underway. A total of 62 individuals, including flight crew and healthcare personnel, have been identified as potential contacts of those infected with the Andes strain of the virus.
The luxury cruise ship, carrying nearly 150 passengers, was affected by the hantavirus outbreak and is now heading toward the Canary Islands. However, regional authorities in Spain, represented by Fernando Clavijo, have indicated that the ship is not welcome due to public health risks.
Clavijo, who leads a coalition government alongside the conservative People’s Party, which serves as the primary opposition to the ruling Socialists, emphasized that the local population of Tenerife, approximately 1,300 kilometers from mainland Spain, is at risk. He stated, “This decision is not based on any technical criteria, nor is there sufficient information to reassure the public or guarantee their safety,” during an interview with COPE radio.
He has also requested an urgent discussion with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to address the situation. The ultimate decision regarding the ship’s handling rests with the central government, which has authority over regional matters.
In South Africa, health officials have confirmed that a strain of the hantavirus identified among the victims can occasionally transmit between humans. Additionally, the Swiss government reported that a passenger from the MV Hondius has tested positive for the virus and is currently receiving treatment in Zurich, although they assured that there is no risk to the general public.
Among the deceased are a Dutch couple and a German national, while a British citizen remains in intensive care in South Africa. The Netherlands is preparing to evacuate three individuals from the ship, including one Dutch national.
The World Health Organization has consistently maintained that the risk to the general population from this outbreak remains low. Maria Van Kerkhove, the director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, reiterated that hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids, with human-to-human transmission being rare.
However, limited human-to-human transmission has been documented in previous outbreaks of the Andes strain, particularly in South America, where the cruise began its journey in March.
A presentation from South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that the Andes strain was responsible for the infection of the Dutch woman who died in Johannesburg, as well as the British man currently hospitalized.
The presentation noted, “This is the only strain known to cause human-to-human transmission, but such cases are exceedingly rare and occur only with very close contact.” The South African health ministry has initiated contact tracing, identifying 62 contacts who will be monitored until the incubation period has elapsed. None of these individuals have been diagnosed with the hantavirus to date.
Originally, Cape Verde was meant to be the cruise ship’s final port of call, but the nation has prohibited the vessel from disembarking passengers due to the ongoing outbreak.
In the meantime, the Dutch foreign ministry is coordinating the evacuation of three patients, including one Dutch national, back to the Netherlands for further treatment. “All efforts are focused on facilitating this process as quickly as possible,” they stated, adding that specific details regarding the timing and logistics will be provided once finalized.
