Hantavirus outbreak: Two crew members on MV Hondius require ‘urgent medical care’ after three die, one in ICU
Australians among the almost 150 people aboard a cruise ship which has become the epicentre of a hantavirus outbreak.
Four Australians are stuck aboard a cruise ship, which has become the epicentre of a virus outbreak linked to three deaths.
Almost 150 people from 23 countries remain aboard the vessel, which is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.
Two cases of hantavirus, a respiratory illness, have now been confirmed by the World Health Organisation, linked to the polar cruise ship run by Oceanwide Expeditions, MV Hondius, which was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In a statement, Oceanwide Expeditions said isolation measures were in place.
“Two crew members on board continue to present acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe,” a spokesperson said.
“Both require urgent medical care. These crew members are of British and Dutch nationality.”
“At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified.”
While plans are being made to evacuate the symptomatic people, there is no clear timeline for this.
The spokesperson said the atmosphere was “calm” and passengers were “generally composed”.
The cruise line confirmed guests would not be disembarking in Cape Verde and said the Spanish archipelago Canary Islands was being considered.
“Oceanwide Expeditions is working to provide clarity and reassurance to guests and expedite their disembarkation and medical screening,” they said.
In a social media post on Monday, a WHO spokesperson said there were six suspected cases of hantavirus.
“Detailed investigations are ongoing, including further laboratory testing and epidemiological investigations. Medical care and support are being provided to passengers and crew,” they said.
“Sequencing of the virus is also ongoing.
“WHO is facilitating coordination between Member States and the Ship’s operators for medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, as well as full public health risk assessment and support to the remaining passengers on board.”
WHO said that Hantavirus infections are typically linked to exposure to the urine or faeces of infected rodents.
“While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response,” they said.
The first person to show symptoms was a 70-year-old man who died on board the ship on April 11. His body was removed from the ship on April 24 on the island of St Helena, accompanied by his wife.
The 69-year-old wife died in the following days after becoming unwell.
The couple were from the Netherlands and hantavirus was confirmed to be present in both people.
The body of the third person who died, a German, remains aboard the ship. They died on May 2. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
A 69-year-old British national is at a hospital in Johannesburg being treated in the intensive care unit, where they remain in a critical but stable condition. A variant of hantavirus has been identified in the person.
