The World Health Organization has confirmed two laboratory cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, which is currently anchored off Cape Verde in West Africa. The outbreak, which began between 6 and 28 April 2026, has resulted in three deaths and left one passenger in critical condition. The ship, carrying 147 people of 23 nationalities, had been traveling from Ushuaia in Argentina before illness symptoms emerged among crew and passengers.
WHO said the affected individuals presented with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms that rapidly progressed to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock. Two symptomatic patients are being evacuated for treatment, while the remaining passengers and crew are under close health monitoring. The agency is coordinating medical evacuations with national authorities and the ship’s operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, as laboratory testing and genetic sequencing continue to identify the exact strain.
The outbreak involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant capable of human-to-human transmission. Most hantavirus infections globally are spread through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva in poorly ventilated spaces, but this strain has raised concern due to its potential for person-to-person spread. Experts stress that such transmission remains extremely rare, limiting the likelihood of a wider outbreak.
The cruise ship incident has prompted WHO to trace passengers on an April 25 flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg, taken by one infected passenger who died the following day. Among those being contacted are passengers from Britain, Spain, and the United States, as well as crew members from the Philippines. A British passenger is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, while two crew members, one British and one Dutch, require urgent medical care.
In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has not reported any confirmed hantavirus cases as of 6 May 2026. Health officials say surveillance at ports of entry remains active, though the risk to the Nigerian public is currently assessed as minimal. The situation highlights the need for vigilance in West Africa as health authorities monitor for potential spillover from regional travel and maritime activity.
Raymond Ken-Mbata, reporting for Health Pharm Media
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