Three Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship Off Cape Verde
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has killed three people with at least three others sick. The World Health Organization confirmed one case and is investigating five suspected cases as the ship remains anchored off Cape Verde.
Outbreak Details
Deaths and Cases: A suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has killed three people, including an elderly married couple, and sickened at least three others, according to health officials and the cruise operator.
Confirmed Cases: As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms.
Disease Characteristics: The illness caused by the virus starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever and abdominal pain, and can lead to heart and lung failure. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, around 40% of human hantavirus infections result in death.
Public Health: The World Health Organization (WHO) said the risk posed by the hantavirus to the wider public remained low despite the deaths on the MV Hondius cruise ship.