Hantavirus Outbreak: MV Hondius Heads to Canaries; 5 Ukrainians Aboard
The MV Hondius cruise ship, with a hantavirus outbreak, is sailing to the Canary Islands for passenger and crew examination, including five Ukrainian crew members. Two confirmed cases are being treated in South Africa and Switzerland. Three deaths were reported on board by May 4.
The cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak, is en route to Spain's Canary Islands, expected to dock on May 9. All 170 passengers and 71 crew members, including a doctor, will be examined upon arrival. Five Ukrainian crew members are aboard; Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports their health is satisfactory with no illness symptoms.
Five individuals with hantavirus symptoms were evacuated from the vessel. Two confirmed cases are being treated in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Zurich, Switzerland. Three other suspected cases were taken to the Netherlands and Germany. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius began a three-week cruise from Argentina. Three deaths were reported on the vessel by May 4, including a 70-year-old Dutch passenger and his 69-year-old wife. The ship anchored off Cape Verde after the outbreak, but was redirected to the Canary Islands due to Cape Verde's lack of examination capacity. Hantavirus is a viral infection transmitted to humans, often via rodent contact.