Three Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Atlantic Cruise Ship

May 4, 2026

The World Health Organization has confirmed at least one case of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Verde, with five additional suspected cases under investigation. Three people have died from the outbreak: a 70-year-old passenger who died aboard the ship and whose body is being held on Saint Helena, his 69-year-old wife who died in a Johannesburg hospital after testing positive, and a third unidentified victim. A 69-year-old British passenger remains in intensive care in South Africa. The WHO is coordinating international efforts to evacuate symptomatic passengers while conducting genetic sequencing of the virus, which is transmitted through infected rodent droppings and can cause fatal hemorrhagic fever.

Hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius cruise ship

▪The MV Hondius cruise ship is sailing from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde.

Casualties and medical response across multiple countries

▪The person in intensive care from the MV Hondius outbreak is a 69-year-old Briton.
▪The 69-year-old wife of the first deceased passenger fell sick and was evacuated to South Africa.
▪One passenger from the MV Hondius outbreak is currently in intensive care in South Africa.
▪The World Health Organization is facilitating coordination between countries to evacuate two other passengers showing symptoms of hantavirus infection.
▪The body of the 70-year-old passenger who died on the MV Hondius is being held on the island of Saint Helena.
▪A 70-year-old passenger was the first to develop symptoms on the MV Hondius and died on the ship.
▪The 69-year-old wife of the first deceased passenger died in a Johannesburg hospital.

Perspective of Cruise ship passengers and crew

▪The MV Hondius continues sailing from Ushuaia Argentina to Cape Verde despite the hantavirus outbreak onboard.

Perspective of Public health authorities in affected countries

▪Saint Helena authorities are holding the body of a 70-year-old hantavirus victim from the MV Hondius.
▪South African health authorities are treating hantavirus patients evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship.