Key Aspects:
- Oceanswide Expeditions has released a more detailed timeline of the suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard MV Hondius.
- At this time, only one hantavirus infection has been confirmed and it may not be related to other guest deaths.
- The ship remains offshore of Cape Verde and the cruise line is working with authorities on safe debarkation options.
Oceanwide Expeditions is cautiously releasing more details of the timeline of the medical emergency currently evolving onboard MV Hondius, where multiple guests have died and another is confirmed infected with hantavirus.
Cruise Hive initially reported on the situation and the World Health Organization’s response to the outbreak, which began as the expedition vessel was repositioning from her Antarctic season to the Arctic.
Now, the cruise line has clarified more of an exact timeline for the outbreak, including select details of those involved.
The situation began with a male guest’s sudden death on Saturday, April 11, though the cause of death was not able to be determined at that time. The deceased guest and his wife were debarked on St. Helena, a small island in the South Atlantic, roughly 1,170 miles off the coast of Africa.
The wife fell ill and later died. There has not yet been any confirmation about the cause of their deaths or whether they are related to the hantavirus outbreak onboard the ship. Both guests were Dutch nationals.
On Monday, April 27, another guest onboard Hondius became seriously ill and required emergency medical evacuation to Johannesburg, South Africa. The guest, who is a British national, is reportedly in critical but stable condition but has been confirmed infected with hantavirus.
A third guest, this one a German citizen, died onboard the ship on Saturday, May 2. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
Two crew members currently onboard the ship are reportedly ill with respiratory symptoms, though the cruise line has not indicated whether these symptoms are consistent with hantavirus. One is a British national, the other is a Dutch national.
“Hantavirus has not currently been confirmed in the two persons still on board who require medical care. Nor has it been established that the virus is connected to the three deaths associated with this voyage,” the cruise line explained.
“The exact cause and any possible connection are being investigated. Therefore, the only confirmed case of hantavirus is the passenger who was medically evacuated and is now being treated in Johannesburg.”
No further identifying details about those impacted have been released, as is standard to safeguard individuals’ privacy.
Onboard, various outbreak precautions are in place, including isolation measures for those exhibiting any symptoms as well as enhanced hygiene throughout the ship. Guests are being kept informed of the situation as new information becomes available.
When Will Guests Debark the Ship?
At the moment, Hondius is off the coast of Cape Verde and is unable to disembark guests without clearance from the authorities. There are 149 people onboard the ship, including 19 British nationals, 17 US citizens, 13 Spanish nationals, and others from a variety of countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, and Argentina.
Of those onboard, 61 are crew members, 38 of whom are Philippine nationals.
All cruise ships must abide by local restrictions for debarkation clearance, and medical concerns are always a factor. Strict protocols are in place to prevent the transmission of any contagious diseases, which can delay when a ship is able to debark.
Oceanwide Expeditions is working with local and international authorities, medical oversight organizations, including the World Health Organization, and different embassies to clarify the situation and next steps.
“The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place,” the cruise line noted, though no plans for this are yet confirmed.
The cruise line is also reaching out to those directly impacted by the situation, including families on land, to provide information and support.
The World Health Organization notes that there are several variations of hantavirus, all of which are carried by rodents and contracted by contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Different strains of hantavirus have different symptoms and progression in those infected. Human-to-human transmission is rare.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with all those onboard during this frightening situation, as well as their loved ones at home who are awaiting new information about the incident.
