Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship Off Cabo Verde Traps 150

A hantavirus outbreak has impacted the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship near Cabo Verde, revealing seven cases, which include two confirmed infections and three fatalities associated with the trip. The World Health Organization announced on Monday that there are 147 individuals aboard, comprising passengers and crew from 23 nations, with 17 Americans, 19 Britons, and 13 Spaniards among them, alongside 61 crew members. A British passenger in intensive care in Johannesburg tested positive, while a Dutch passenger who passed away after leaving the ship in Saint Helena also had a positive test; she departed with her deceased husband's remains, who died on board in April. Three other suspected cases with mild symptoms are still on the ship, and the cause of death for a German passenger on May 2 remains unverified. Oceanwide Expeditions BV, the Dutch operator, reported that two crew members—one with mild symptoms and another in severe condition—require immediate medical attention. Hantavirus, a rare illness transmitted via rodent urine, saliva, and feces, can lead to severe pulmonary syndrome.