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Deadly Hantavirus Strands Passengers on Cruise Ship
9 May
Summary
- Three passengers have died from a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius.
- The ship is en route from Cape Verde to the Canary Islands.
- American passengers are being flown to a quarantine facility in Nebraska.
A cruise ship, the MV Hondius, is currently experiencing a severe hantavirus outbreak, resulting in three passenger deaths. Two of these cases are confirmed for the Andes strain, with one probable. The ship departed from Cape Verde and is sailing towards the Canary Islands, where evacuations are slated to commence on Monday. American passengers aboard will be flown to a quarantine facility in Nebraska arranged by the U.S. State Department.
This current crisis on the Hondius is drawing comparisons to the Diamond Princess coronavirus outbreak in January 2020. Passengers from that earlier incident recall the fear and isolation of being confined to their cabins for extended periods. The Andes strain of hantavirus, while not spreading as easily as Covid-19, carries a fatality rate of up to 50% and can rapidly affect vital organs.
Passengers on the Hondius are expected to undergo quarantine upon reaching their destination, with some being monitored at a Madrid military hospital. The experience is reminiscent of earlier cruise ship quarantines, where strict protocols were enforced to limit transmission. Passengers are employing various methods to cope, including reading and watching movies, as they await resolution.
