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Cruise Ship Hantavirus Scare: 3 Deaths Reported
6 May
Summary
- Three deaths confirmed on a cruise ship due to suspected hantavirus.
- Seven cases, including two confirmed, were identified on board.
- Ship experienced a hantavirus outbreak after visiting remote locations.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak has led to three deaths aboard Oceanwide Expeditions' MV Hondius. The expedition vessel, carrying 147 passengers, departed Argentina on April 1st for a voyage to Cape Verde. Seven hantavirus cases, two confirmed and five suspected, have been identified among those on board.
Three individuals will undergo medical evacuation in Cape Verde. The ship will then continue its three-day journey to the Canary Islands, with Las Palmas or Tenerife being considered for potential further medical assessments. The exact origin of the outbreak remains unclear, though passengers visited remote areas including Antarctica.
While hantavirus cases are rare and no other cruise ship outbreaks are publicly known, the situation highlights strict biosecurity measures on expedition vessels. Industry groups have offered support to Oceanwide Expeditions as they manage the situation, emphasizing the rarity of such events in the cruise industry.